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

Keywords

Related Articles

First case of human granulocytic anaplasmosis from Slovakia.

In order to evaluate the potential risks of human granulocytic anaplasmosis in Slovakia, blood and serum samples of hunters and foresters from the northern parth of Slovakia were tested. We present the first case of HGA...

Cardiac channelopathies – A too frequently trivialized problem?

Channelopathies are a genetically conditioned group of disorders related with defects in ion channels, responsible for the occurrence of dangerous abnormal heart rhythm in a structurally normal heart. These diseases are...

Occupational exposure to airborne microorganisms, endotoxins and β-glucans in poultry houses at different stages of the production cycle

The aim of the presented study was to assess the exposure of poultry workers to airborne microorganisms, endotoxins and β-glucans during different stages of the chicken production cycle in 3 commercially-operated poultry...

An assessment of health effects of a cardiological prophylaxis programme in a local community with the use of the SCORE algorithm

Introduction: In 2009, the SDR due to cardiovascular diseases was 356.3 per 100,000 people in Poland. The Prophylaxis and Early Detection of Cardiovascular Diseases Programme (PEDCCP) aimed at decreasing mortality caused...

Health effects of selected microbiological control agents. A 3-year follow-up study

Introduction and objectives: Microbiological control agents (MBCA) are widely used in greenhouses, replacing chemical pesticides. The presented study aims to describe health effects of exposure to three types commonly us...

Download PDF file
  • EP ID EP79350
  • DOI 10.5604/12321966.1203888
  • Views 119
  • Downloads 0

How To Cite

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 (2016). Fungal diversity and Aspergillus species in hospital environments. Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine, 23(2), 264-269. https://europub.co.uk/articles/-A-79350