LIBRARY FUNGI AT THE UNIVERSITY-OF-SAO-PAULO AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH RESPIRATORY ALLERGY

In this study, we investigated the fungi most frequently found in the air and the books of 28 libraries at the University of Sao Paulo, Braz il. In a second phase, 314 librarians were questioned about the presen ce of asthmatic or rhinitic symptoms, and the relationship with the si te of work. Forty-nine percent of them reported this type of symptoms and 80% related them to the place of work. In the third stage, librari ans underwent intracutaneous tests against the 20 fungi most frequentl y isolated in libraries. Eighteen librarians presented positive tests, 12 of whom reported rhinitis and 6 of whom were asymptomatic. In 19.5 % of symptomatic patients wheals > 15 mm were observed after 6 h, whil e 9% of the asymptomatic patients presented similar wheals. Fourteen l ibrarians with positive tests underwent tests with each of the 20 fung i constituting the pool. The airborne fungi isolated in libraries are likely to be found anywhere in the city of Sao Paulo, but they are lik ely to be present in higher concentrations in libraries, subsequently producing respiratory allergies.