Author/Authors :
Azimi، Faramarz نويسنده Lorestan University of Medical Sciences , , Naddafi، Kazem نويسنده Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , , Nabizadeh، Ramin نويسنده Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , , Hassanvand، Mohammad Sadegh نويسنده Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Center for Air Pollution Research (CAPR), Institute for Environmental Research (IER), Tehran University of Medical Sciences , , Alimohammadi، Mahmood نويسنده Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , , Afhami، Shirin نويسنده , , Musavi، Seyed Nejat نويسنده 1Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran ,
Abstract :
Fungi are usually presented in indoor environments and cause of many diseases. The aim of this descriptive study
was to investigate the level of fungal contamination in hospital rooms. Sampling was conducted with an Andersen
one-stage viable impactor (Quick Take-30) and counting plates containing a fungus-selective medium. A total of
120 air samples from ten hospital environments were performed. Airborne fungi concentrations were determined
72-120 hours after sampling. Total mean concentration of detected fungi in the hospital rooms was 55 ± 56 (mean ±
SD) cfu/m3. The findings of the fungal concentration in the various hospital rooms revealed different levels of contamination:
the lowest mean counts (37 ± 17 cfu/m3) were observed in NS 1 (Nursing Stations 1), and the highest
(97 ± 217 cfu/m3) were reported in Orthopedics Operating Room (OOR). The most common fungal genus isolated
were Penicillium (70%), Aspergillus (14%), Cladosporium (12%), Alternaria (2%) and others (2%). The obtained results
showed that fungal concentrations in the present study were nearly high and these conditions should be considered
as a risk factor for patients and other persons in the hospital.
