Gardening is a healthy and fulfilling hobby for many Australians. But like many activities in our day-to-day lives, there is some risk involved, particularly when it comes to using potting mix and compost which can contain legionella bacteria which cause legionnaire’s disease, a potentially deadly form of pneumonia. These products are also breeding grounds for fungi. Fungal spores are all around us. We inhale them every day and our immune system in our lungs just eliminates them. But if you have a compromised immune system, (the spores) can lead to a problem. People with diabetes have a slightly increased risk of infection because these fungi prefer hosts with high blood sugar. In most cases, infections are caused by breathing in fungal spores. However, you can also become infected through a gardening injury. What are your thoughts LiveTribers? Who is at risk of fungal infections while gardening?
Posted by on 04 Jun 2024
