MOLDS and YEAST

Alternaria - This is an atmospheric mold found in dead, dying, or decaying plants and plant material. Outdoors it may be isolated from samples of soil, seeds, and plants. The peak seasons outdoors for Alternaria are in the summer and the early fall. Indoors it is often found in house dust, carpets, drapes, fabrics, and window frames.

Cladosporium - This is an atmospheric mold found in decaying vegetation, especially tomatoes and peaches. It is also found in spoiled meat, tobacco, leather, rubber, cloth, other foods, and wood products. This is the most common outdoor mold and is most prevalent in the summer and least prevalent in the winter. Indoors this mold is often found in dirty refrigerators and especially in reservoirs where condensation is collected. It also occurs on moist window frames.

Helminosporium -This mold is present in cereal grains, plants, and grasses such as wheat, oats, and rye. It is also found in decaying food.

Penicillium - This is the cause of bread mold and may be found in apples, pears, and citrus fruit. It can also occur as plant rot, and can be found on cheese, leather, and fabrics.

Aspergillus - This mold is most commonly found in old, damp, musty houses. It is also found on dried fruit such as figs and dates, and in onions as the black mold. In addition it can occur on damp hay and grain, damp cloth, leather goods, spoiled foods, damp paper, and decaying plant and vegetable material. Aspergillus is easily aerosolized. It is a common cause of fungal ear infections.

Fusarium - This is a common soil mold, frequently isolated from plants such as peas, beans, cotton, tomato, corn, and sweet potatoes, and from grains such as rice. It is often found in humidifiers and requires wet conditions to grow.

Phoma - This mold is found in paper books, paints containing lead, and in green plants.

Candida - This is a form of yeast and a common organism in the human mouth and intestinal tract which normally causes no harmful effects. Occasionally a patient can become allergic to Candida or develop an infection.

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