Laboratory MycologicalStudy of Visceral Fungal Infection in Tehran, Iran

Background: Many comprehensive epidemiological studies have been done about fungal infections,which areone of the publichealth and therapeutic problemsin different communities. Since prevalence rate of fungal diseases and their etiologicalagents are changing over time,the aim of this study was to provideadditional informationabout visceral fungal infections(VFIs) in order to understand the ways of their dissemination, to preventdisease transmission, to eliminatecontamination sources and predisposingfactors, andto provide effective ways for their treatment. Materials and Methods: Sampleswere taken from the lesion of patients referred to medical mycology laboratory of Tehran University of Medical Sciencesfrom2014 to 2015.After providing direct wet mount of Potassium hydroxide (KOH) smears from these samples andsamples sent fromother medical centers, culturing onSabouraud Dextrose agar with chloramphenicol (SC) and brain heart infusion agar (BHI) mediawas performed. After growth, species were identified. Results: Froma total of 295 suspected samples, VFI wasproved in 69 cases (23%). Aspergillosis was the most prevalent infection among VFIs. Candidiasis, cryptococcosis andmucormycosis were in the late orders, respectively. Two patients were also infected byTrichosporon. The predominant species in aspergillosis infections wasAspergillusflavus,and the predominant species in candidiasis infections wasCandida albicans. Conclusion: According to the obtained results on the prevalence rate and incidence of VFIs between male and femalepatients in different age groups and also by taking into account the prevalent type of fungi and infectioussite of patients’ bodies, it is possible to take appropriate action for the prevention and treatment of these kinds of diseases by using the importantkeys of these results to research and study etiological and underlying factorsinvolved in these diseases.