Occurrence of fungi in dialysis water system and dialysis solution in dialysis centers in Ahvaz, Iran

Objectives: The aims of the present study were to examine the water and dialysate for determining the diversity, occurrence, and distribution of fungi in hemodialysis centers of Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences.Methodology: One hundred and sixty eight water samples from dialysis machines, and dialysis solution were collected. The samples were cultured on Sabouraud s dextrose agar and incubated at room temperature.Results: Our study demonstrated that various fungi were present in the water system in haemodialysis centers. Totally, eight genera of filamentous fungi and three genera of yeasts and yeast-likes were identified. The most common filamentous fungi were Fusarium, Penicillium and Aspergillus, whereas, Candida tropicalis was the most frequently isolated yeast. Conclusion: The water supply for hemodialysis units could be contaminated with several fungal species that occur during piping into kidney machine. In addition, contamination with fungi due to contact with plastic materials in kidney machine pipes is more considerable. For minimizing the exposure of patients suffering from chronic renal insufficiency to contaminated water sources, water distribution systems should also be monitored for mycological contamination. In addition dialysate solutions should also be kept for preventing fungal contaminations