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Appl Environ Microbiol. 1971 October; 22(4): 730-731
Copyright © 1971 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Presence of Thermophilic Actinomycetes in Residential Heating Systems

Allergy Section, Department of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53193
Microbiology and Research Services, Wood Veterans Administration Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53193
Department of Medicine, Louisiana State University, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112
Department of Microbiology, Louisiana State University, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112

ABSTRACT

Thermophilic actinomycetes, associated with a hypersensitivity pneumonitis, may be found in compost but also have been detected in heating systems of office buildings. This study was designed to determine whether these organisms were present in residential heating systems. Furnace dust or humidifier water of 12 of 20 homes contained thermophilic actinomycetes, indicating that the organisms may be found in areas other than specific decomposing organic dusts.