Fungal diversity and Aspergillus species in hospital environments
Journal Title: Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine - Year 2016, Vol 23, Issue 2
Abstract
[b]Introduction and objective.[/b] Nosocomial invasive fungal infections, particularly aspergillosis, are an increasing problem in immunocompromised patients. The presented study evaluates fungal diversity and the presence of [i]Aspergillus[/i] in air samples from two hospitals. [b]Materials and methods.[/b] Over the course of one year (rainy and dry seasons), the air was sampled from three areas in two hospitals (1 and 2) using a single-stage Andersen viable particle sampler (Thermo Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA). The fungi were identified by macro- and micromorphology, and the number of colony forming units (CFU)/m[sup]3[/sup] air and their richness, abundance, and diversity were determined. Isolates [i]Aspergillus[/i] genus were characterized by their thermotolerance. [b]Results. [/b]The CFU/m[sup]3[/sup] air was similar at both hospitals during the two seasons, but different between the sampled areas. Results showed 10 fungal genera for hospital 1, and 8 for hospital 2. The most abundant were [i]Penicillium[/i], [i]Cladosporium[/i] and [i]Aspergillus[/i]. The thermotolerance test confirmed the identification of [i]A. fumigatus[/i] section [i]Fumigati[/i]. The highest growth rate was found in [i]Aspergillus[/i] section [i]Nigri[/i]. [b]Conclusion.[/b] Determining the fungal diversity in the two hospitals was important because all the species have the potential to be pathogenic, especially the section [i]Fumigati[/i].
Authors and Affiliations
Erick Obed Martínez-Herrera, María Guadalupe Frías De-León, Esperanza Duarte-Escalante, María del Carmen Calderón-Ezquerro, María del Carme Jiménez-Martínez, Gustavo Acosta-Altamirano, Facundo Rivera-Becerril, Conchita Toriello, María del Rocío Reyes Montes
Characterization of Polish feline B. henselae isolates by multiple-locus tandem repeat analysis and pulse-field gel electrophoresis
Knowledge about molecular epidemiology of [i]B. henselae[/i] is important for recognizing the geographical distribution of strains and identification of isolates virulent for humans. Eleven Polish feline [i]B. henselae[/...
Comparison of consumer and nutritional behaviours of respondents aged 55 and older living in selected regions of Poland and France: BIO LIFE project – pilot studies
The survey studied individuals aged 55 and older living in the Wielkopolska province of Poland and the Lorraine region in France to analyse and to compare consumer and nutritional behaviours. The results provided data on...
Co-existence of [i]Legionella[/i] and other Gram-negative bacteria in potable water from various rural and urban sources
A total of 320 potable water samples were collected from various rural and urban sources located in the Lublin region of eastern Poland. They comprised: 55 samples of treated (chlorinated) tap water from rural dwellings...
Engagement in risky behaviours by 15-19-year-olds from Polish urban and rural areas
Introduction. Anti-health behaviours pose a threat to the health status of the adolescent population in Poland. Among other things, the use and abuse of tobacco, alcohol and psychoactive substances are very dangerous as...
National monitoring study on microbial contamination of food-contact surfaces in hospital kitchens in Poland
Introduction and objective: The risk of food-borne infections in hospitalized patients with compromised immune systems is much higher and can also lead to more serious health consequences than among other population grou...