There are over 100,000 species of fungi. Many fungi are good and useful (edible mushrooms would be an example of these) while some cause problems (some fungi can injure plants and humans). Every week the IEQ Review will describe a specific microorganism, its morphological origin and potential health effects. If you would like to know about a specific organism and/or would like it published in The IEQ Review please email Dr. Rajiv Sahay with the Environmental Diagnostics Laboratory (EDL) at Pure Air Control Services laboratory@pureaircontrols.com. This week we will cover ...
Acremonium spp. 
Acremonium spp. are filamentous, cosmopolitan fungi commonly isolated from plant debris and soil. The sexual state of
Acremonium is not well defined. Thus, it is classified among the deuteromycetes group of fungi by some authorities. Others prefer to include it in Ascomycota phylum, due to its structural properties similar to those of this group.
Acremonium is one of the causative agents of eumycotic white grain mycetoma. Rare cases of onychomycosis, keratitis, endophthalmitis, endocarditis, meningitis, peritonitis, and osteomyelitis due to
Acremonium have also been reported. This fungus is known to cause opportunistic infections in immunocompromised patients, such as bone marrow transplant recipients Infections of artificial implants due to
Acremonium spp. are occasionally observed. Since
Acremonium species are cosmopolitan in nature, they are also encountered as contaminants. Thus, their isolation in culture requires cautious evaluation.
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