From the Guidelines
Air purifiers can be beneficial in reducing airborne fungal spores, including Candida, which can exacerbate candidiasis.
Key Points
- By removing particulate matter and fungal elements from the air, air purifiers with HEPA filters can potentially decrease the risk of inhalation and subsequent colonization of Candida species 1.
- In conjunction with antifungal medications such as fluconazole (100-200mg daily for 14-28 days) or itraconazole (100-200mg daily for 14-28 days), air purifiers may be a useful adjunctive therapy in managing candidiasis, particularly in immunocompromised individuals.
- HEPA filters are capable of removing 99.97% of particles greater than or equal to 0.3 um in diameter, which includes Candida spores 1.
- The use of air purifiers with HEPA filters is recommended in hospital settings to reduce mold exposure among highly immunocompromised patients, such as those undergoing allogeneic HSCT or receiving induction/reinduction chemotherapy for acute leukemia 1.
- While the evidence is not specific to Candida, the principles of reducing airborne fungal spores can be applied to managing candidiasis, particularly in immunocompromised individuals 1.
Considerations
- It is essential to note that Candida pneumonia is rare and usually limited to severely immunocompromised patients, and the diagnosis requires histopathological evidence of invasive disease 1.
- The use of air purifiers should be considered as part of a comprehensive approach to managing candidiasis, including antifungal medications and other supportive therapies.
From the Research
Air Purifiers and Candidiasis
- There are no direct research papers that investigate the effectiveness of air purifiers in helping with candidiasis, which is a fungal infection caused by Candida species.
- However, some studies have looked at the effectiveness of air purifiers and filters in reducing fungal spores and other microorganisms in the air, which could potentially help reduce the risk of candidiasis:
- A study published in 2019 2 found that combining UV irradiation and gaseous iodine treatment can inactivate bacterial and fungal spores, including those of Aspergillus fumigatus, a common opportunistic pathogen.
- Another study published in 2020 3 found that using UV-C lamps to directly irradiate HEPA filters can be an effective way to reduce microbial load, including fungi, in air-conditioning systems.
- A 2022 study 4 found that using air purifiers in intensive care units can reduce the microbial load in the air and on surfaces, which could potentially help reduce the risk of hospital-acquired infections, including those caused by Candida species.
- It's worth noting that while these studies suggest that air purifiers and filters can be effective in reducing microbial load, including fungi, they do not specifically address the effectiveness of air purifiers in helping with candidiasis.
- More research is needed to determine the effectiveness of air purifiers in reducing the risk of candidiasis and other fungal infections.