Author/Authors :
Ghazanfari ، Mona Department of Medical Mycology - Invasive Fungi Research Center, Communicable Diseases Institute, Faculty of Medicine - Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences , Yazdani Charati ، Jamshid Department of Biostatistics - Faculty of Health - Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences , Keikha ، Nasser Infectious Disease and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Research Institute of Cellular and Molecular Sciences in Infectious Diseases - Zahedan University of Medical Sciences , Kholoujini ، Mahdi Beheshti Hospital - Hamadan University of Medical Sciences , Kermani ، Firoozeh Department of Medical Mycology - Faculty of Medicine - Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences , Nasirzadeh ، Yaser Department of Medical Mycology - Faculty of Medicine - Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences , Roohi ، Behrad Department of Medical Mycology - Faculty of Medicine - Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences , Minooeianhaghighi ، Mohammad Hassan Department of Medical Microbiology - Faculty of Medicine, Infectious Diseases Research Center - Gonabad University of Medical Sciences , Salari ، Bahram Department of Medical Mycology - Faculty of Medicine - Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences , Jeddi ، Ali Department of Laboratory Sciences - School of Allied Sciences - Abadan University of Medical Sciences , Didehdar ، Mojtaba Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology - School of Medicine - Arak University of Medical Sciences , Shokri ، Azar Vector-Borne Diseases Research Center - North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences , Ameri Seyahooei ، Sekhavat Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Hormozgan Health Institute - Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences , Aslani ، Narges Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Centre - Tabriz University of Medical Sciences , Nazeri ، Mehdi Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology - Faculty of Medicine - Kashan University of Medical Sciences , Ghojoghi ، Aynaz Department of Medical Mycology - School of Medicine - Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences , Amirizad ، Kazem Department of Mycology - Faculty of Medical Sciences - Tarbiat Modares University , Azish ، Maryam Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology - School of Medicine - Dezful University of Medical Sciences , Nosratabadi ، Mohsen Department of Medical Mycology - Faculty of Medicine - Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences , Zakerian ، Mohammad Reza Shohada Hospital-Gonbad - Golestan University of Medical Sciences and Health Services , Hedayati ، Shakiba Student Research Committee Center - Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences , Hatamipour ، Hedieh Department of Medical Mycology - Faculty of Medicine - Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences , Abastabar ، Mahdi Department of Medical Mycology - Invasive Fungi Research Center, Communicable Diseases Institute, Faculty of Medicine - Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences , Haghani ، Iman Department of Medical Mycology - Invasive Fungi Research Center, Communicable Diseases Institute , Faculty of Medicine - Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences , Hedayati ، Mohammad T. Department of Medical Mycology - Invasive Fungi Research Center, Communicable Diseases Institute , Faculty of Medicine - Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences
Abstract :
Background and Purpose: The hospital environment was reported as a real habitat for different microorganisms, especially mold fungi. On the other hand, these opportunistic fungi were considered hospital-acquired mold infections in patients with weak immune status. Therefore, this multi-center study aimed to evaluate 23 hospitals in 18 provinces of Iran for fungal contamination sources. Materials and Methods: In total, 43 opened Petri plates and 213 surface samples were collected throughout different wards of 23 hospitals. All collected samples were inoculated into Sabouraud Dextrose Agar containing Chloramphenicol (SC), and the plates were then incubated at 27-30ºC for 7-14 days. Results: A total of 210 fungal colonies from equipment (162, 77.1%) and air (48, 22.9%) were identified. The most predominant isolated genus was Aspergillus (47.5%), followed by Rhizopus (14.2%), Mucor (11.7%), and Cladosporium (9.2%). Aspergillus (39.5%), Cladosporium (16.6%), as well as Penicillium and Sterile hyphae (10.4% each), were the most isolates from the air samples. Moreover, intensive care units (38.5%) and operating rooms (21.9%) had the highest number of isolated fungal colonies. Out of 256 collected samples from equipment and air, 163 (63.7%) were positive for fungal growth. The rate of fungal contamination in instrument and air samples was 128/213 (60.1%) and 35/43 (81.2%), respectively. Among the isolated species of Aspergillus, A. flavus complex (38/96, 39.6%), A. niger complex (31/96, 32.3%), and A. fumigatus complex (15/96, 15.6%) were the commonest species. Conclusion: According to our findings, in addition to air, equipment and instrument should be considered among the significant sources of fungal contamination in the indoor environment of hospitals.
Keywords :
Airborne fungi , Hospital , Indoor air , Equipment , Sources of fungal contamination
