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There are several species of fungi known as molds that live in nutrient-rich media. A common mold is Penicillium , which is associated with and fighting infections, and also causes severe allergic reactions.
Characteristics of Penicillium
- It is a cylindrical fungus with tufted spores. Colonies change color from white to blue, green, and gray over time
- It is found in soil, food, paper, paint, plaster, rubber, fiberglass, wood.
- It infects humans and animals. The minimum infective dose, that is, the amount of fungus that triggers an infection in a host, is not known. It can infect digestive, respiratory and parenteral routes (through injections).
- It is spread by inhaling spores, contact with infected materials, consumption of infected food, and contamination of wounds. Penicillium spores can be detected in the air throughout the year, but can also show seasonal fluctuations.
Exposure to the fungus
Cases of Penicillium infections have been reported while carrying out agricultural activities; also in workers in the lumber, rubber, textile and food production industries. There are cases of contagion in workers who manage waste, build, manipulate laboratory samples, are in contact with archival materials, among others. In a 2005 study, a case of contagion in the domestic environment was reported, something unusual.
Infections caused by the fungus
Various studies report that Penicillium produces, in most cases, respiratory infections of which hypersensitivity pneumonitis or extrinsic allergic alveolitis have been widely described, a group of lung diseases caused by repeated exposure to different inhaled spores of this and others. fungal species.
Other cases of infections associated with Penicillium are some on the skin and in surgical wounds; Rather rare conjunctival (eye) infections have also been reported.
Allergic, toxic and carcinogenic effects
Different species of Penicillium cause asthma and respiratory allergies. They also trigger food poisoning caused by the ingestion of food contaminated with substances produced by the fungus, called toxins. Carcinogenic effects have been associated with the species Penicillium verrucosum and Penicillium griseofulvum , which produce the carcinogenic mycotoxins ochratoxin A and griseofulvin, respectively.
Diagnostic criteria
The most frequent symptoms in patients who develop respiratory diseases associated with Penicillium are episodes of recurrent fever, cough, myalgia (muscle pain), headache (headache), sweating, dyspnea on exertion (shortness of breath) and asthenia (tiredness), labial cyanosis (blue lips) and basal crackles (noises in the lungs), among others.
Like any allergy, the above symptoms are caused by an exaggerated response from the immune system. When a person allergic to Penicillium inhales tiny spores of this fungus, their body recognizes them as foreign invaders and develops protective substances called antibodies, which trigger the allergy.
To diagnose diseases associated with allergies, it is necessary to perform x-rays and perform physiological and immunological tests. However, there are no characteristic findings of this condition that typically present, so a thorough examination is necessary.
Relationship of Penicillium allergy to other allergies
Some people with a Penicillium allergy may experience symptoms when exposed to other types of mold. This is called cross-reactivity and occurs when the immune system identifies structurally similar or biologically related components between one infectious agent and another, triggering a response.
However, subjects allergic to Penicillium are not necessarily allergic to penicillin. Penicillin is an antibiotic product of Penicillium metabolism , which attacks the cell walls of certain types of bacteria . Patients with an allergy to this mold are no more at risk of developing an allergy to this class of antibiotics than anyone else with a history of allergies. Therefore, the risk factors in both cases are important.
| Risk factor’s. Penicillium allergy | Risk factor’s. Penicillin allergy |
| Having a family history of allergies. Working in an occupation that exposes you to mold. Work or live in a place with high humidity. Work or live in a place with little ventilation. |
Present a history of other allergies. Having a family history of drug allergies. Exposure to penicillin. Suffering from diseases associated with drug allergies. |
Preventive measures against Penicillium allergy
- Eliminate sources and clean sources of moisture.
- Use air conditioner.
- Periodically change air filters, air conditioning, ducts, among others.
- Install sources of ventilation in bathrooms and other places where humidity can concentrate.
- Do not carpet bathrooms and basements.
- Do not store paper or other materials that can mold quickly.
Sources
Mayo Clinic Staff. Mold allergy . Mayo Clinic, nd
DataBio. Penicillium spp . National Institute of Safety and Hygiene at Work, Government of Spain, nd
Young-Mok Lee, Yang-Ki Kim, Shin-Ok Kim, Sang-Jae Kim, Hae-Sim Park†. A Case of Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis Caused by Penicillium species in a Home Environment . J Korean Med Sci , 20(6): 1073-5, 2005.
