[Medical clinical diagnostics for indoor mould exposure - Update 2023 (AWMF Register No. 161/001)]

Area of Science:

• Environmental Medicine
• Allergology
• Preventive Medicine

Background:

• Indoor mold growth presents potential health risks, though direct causal links to specific health problems are not always established due to ubiquitous fungi and diagnostic limitations.
• Sufficient evidence links moisture/mold damage to allergic respiratory diseases, asthma, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and rhinosinusitis.
• Limited evidence suggests associations with atopic eczema, COPD, mood disorders, and mucous membrane irritation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present an abridged version of the updated AWMF guideline on medical diagnostics for indoor mold exposure.
• To summarize established and suspected health effects associated with indoor mold.
• To outline diagnostic approaches and preventive recommendations for indoor mold infestation.

Main Methods:

• Review and synthesis of the updated AWMF guideline on medical clinical diagnostics for indoor mold exposure (Update 2023).
• Analysis of evidence for associations between indoor mold and various health outcomes.
• Identification of risk groups and recommended diagnostic procedures.

Main Results:

• Established associations include allergic respiratory diseases, asthma, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and rhinosinusitis.
• Limited or suspected associations exist for atopic eczema, COPD, mood disorders, and mucous membrane irritation.
• Infections from indoor molds pose a low risk to healthy individuals; specific risk groups require protection.

Conclusions:

• Indoor mold infestation requires preventive measures due to established health risks, particularly allergic and respiratory conditions.
• Diagnostic approaches involve medical history, physical examination, and allergy testing; specific guidelines exist for mold infections and mycotoxins.
• Preventive medical perspective emphasizes that significant indoor mold infestation cannot be tolerated.