RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Pulmonary candidiasis and respiratory impairments among saw-mill workers
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP 406
VO 42
IS Suppl 57
A1 Subhabrata Moitra
A1 Arghya Bandyopadhyay
YR 2013
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/42/Suppl_57/406.abstract
AB BackgroundSaw-mill workers are exposed to a huge amount of wood dust. Although there are seminal reports about respiratory hazards among woodworkers, there is no report about the incidence of Candida albicans infection among them.ObjectiveThe study was carried out to see whether C. albicans infection could have additional effect on the pulmonary disturbances.MethodsOut of 54 male saw-mill workers, based on the appearance of fungus in sputum, they were categorized in two groups, Infected (n=19, mean age 42±10 years) and Non-infected (n=35, mean age 37±5 years). Evaluation of the study participants included ECRHS questionnaire for any respiratory symptoms, lung function test (LFT) and pyrosequencing of the fungal 18s rDNA. Data of respiratory symptoms and association between fungus infection and lung function were analysed using odds ratio with 95% confidence interval and multiple regression respectively adjusting for age, smoking status, second hand smoke and parental asthma.ResultsC. albicans was confirmed using BLAST of the sequences. The infected workers had significantly (p<0.05) higher prevalence of respiratory problems for prolonged cough (OR 3.72, 95% CI 1.02-13.49), wheezing [4.13 (1.05-16.33)], phlegm production [4.26 (1.04-17.45)] and blood in sputum [24.29 (1.96-301.37)]. Mean values of FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC and FEF25-75% were lower among the infected workers although significance was observed for FEF25-75% (p<0.01) only. A strong association was found between C. albicans infection and reduction of FEF25-75% [β= -0.26 (-0.53- -0.002)].InterpretationC. albicans colonization imposed a greater prevalence of respiratory symptoms among the saw-mill workers and a higher chance of small airway obstruction.