Daily vacuuming of mattresses significantly reduces house dust mite allergens, bacterial endotoxin, and fungal β-glucan.
OBJECTIVE
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 β-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 β-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 μg (2.44-6.79) at the start to 0.42 μg (0.21-0.81) at week 8. Total endotoxin and β-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 μg (57.1-156.2) to 19.7 μg (10.2-37.9), respectively (p for trend >.0001). Percentage reductions in total house dust mite allergens, endotoxin, and β-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.


CONCLUSIONS
Daily vacuum cleaning of mattresses over time significantly reduces house dust mite allergens, endotoxin, and β-glucan. This gives atopic patients a practical and cheaper alternative to reduce their exposure to indoor house dust mite allergens and microbial bio-contaminants.
International Emergency Medical Development Center, Show Chwan Memorial Hospital, Changhua City, Taiwan.
Francis Fu-Sheng
FF
Wu
Mei-Wen
MW
Wu
Nevil
N
Pierse
Julian
J
Crane
Robert
R
Siebers
D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000517:prevention & control*; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides / Q000032:analysis*; D001513:Beds; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014618:Vacuum; D047071:beta-Glucans / Q000032:analysis*
D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D004731:Endotoxins; D047071:beta-Glucans