Daily Vacuuming of Mattresses Significantly Reduces House Dust Mite Allergens, Bacterial Endotoxin, and Fungal beta-Glucan

作者：Wu Francis Fu Sheng; Wu Mei Wen; Pierse Nevil; Crane Julian; Siebers Robert^*

来源：Journal of Asthma, 2012, 49(2): 139-143.

DOI：10.3109/02770903.2011.654023

• endotoxin
• house dust mite
• mattress
• vacuuming
• beta-glucan

Background and aims. Atopic patients are advised to cover their mattresses with occlusive coverings; however, these are not cheap. We investigated whether daily vacuum cleaning of mattresses significantly reduces content of house dust mite allergens, bacterial endotoxin, and fungal beta-glucan. Methods. Twenty volunteers vacuumed their mattress daily for 8 weeks. Dust samples collected at two weekly intervals were analyzed for house dust mite allergens (Der p 1 and Der f 1) by double monoclonal antibody ELISA and for endotoxin and beta-glucan by the Limulus amoebocyte lysate kinetic assay. Results are presented as geometric means with 95% confidence interval (CI). Results. Total house dust mite allergens (Der p 1 + Der f 1) significantly reduced from a geometric mean (95% CI) of 4.07 mu g (2.44-6.79) at the start to 0.42 mu g (0.21-0.81) at week 8. Total endotoxin and beta-glucan were also significantly reduced from 13.6 EU (8.6-21.4) to 3.4 EU (2.3-5.0) and from 94.4 mu g (57.1-156.2) to 19.7 mu g (10.2-37.9), respectively (p for trend %26gt;. 0001). Percentage reductions in total house dust mite allergens, endotoxin, and beta-glucan after 8 weeks of daily vacuum cleaning were 85.1% (80.1-90.1), 71.0% (70.4-81.0), and 75.7% (70.4-81.0), respectively. This was mainly due to a 77.7% (70.8-84.7) reduction in total dust. Conclusion. Daily vacuum cleaning of mattresses over time significantly reduces house dust mite allergens, endotoxin, and beta-glucan. This gives atopic patients a practical and cheaper alternative to reduce their exposure to indoor house dust mite allergens and microbial bio-contaminants.

• 出版日期2012-3