Session 4 Infectious diseases Transmitted infectious diseases in indoor environment

INTRODUCTION Except skin, the respiratory tract is the only human organ directly affected by (indoor) air. Therefore it is understandable, that all pollutants from the air can evoke any trouble especially in susceptible people. Microbiological contamination of any environment is common and also indoor air or environment is rich in different microbes and it doesn’t make too big difference if pathogenic or not as we must assume, that in common indoor environment will occur many people with immunodeficiency either due their age (ageing people’s immune system is mostly weakened), their illnesses (e.g. hereditary malfunction of immune system or acquired immune malfunctions) or their treatment ( people after transplantations, with lymphomas or other cancers). These so called immunocompromised people live with us, we are able to safe their lives in hospitals, so we have to guard them in indoor environment, not only hospitals but also in their homes, office buildings, schools etc. Table 1: Worldwide mortality due to infectious diseases (WHO, 2004)