Indoor environment assessment of special wards of educational hospitals for the detection of fungal contamination sources: A multi-center study (۲۰۱۹-۲۰۲۱)

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 ۲۳ hospitals in ۱۸ provinces of Iran for fungal contamination sources.Materials and Methods: In total, ۴۳ opened Petri plates and ۲۱۳ surface samples were collected throughout different wards of ۲۳ hospitals. All collected samples were inoculated into Sabouraud Dextrose Agar containing Chloramphenicol (SC), and the plates were then incubated at ۲۷-۳۰ºC for ۷-۱۴ days.Results: A total of ۲۱۰ fungal colonies from equipment (۱۶۲, ۷۷.۱%) and air (۴۸,۲۲.۹%) were identified. The most predominant isolated genus was Aspergillus (۴۷.۵%),followed by Rhizopus (۱۴.۲%), Mucor (۱۱.۷%), and Cladosporium (۹.۲%). Aspergillus(۳۹.۵%), Cladosporium (۱۶.۶%), as well as Penicillium and Sterile hyphae (۱۰.۴% each), were the most isolates from the air samples. Moreover, intensive care units (۳۸.۵%) and operating rooms (۲۱.۹%) had the highest number of isolated fungal colonies. Out of ۲۵۶ collected samples from equipment and air, ۱۶۳ (۶۳.۷%) were positive for fungal growth.The rate of fungal contamination in instrument and air samples was ۱۲۸/۲۱۳ (۶۰.۱%) and ۳۵/۴۳ (۸۱.۲%), respectively. Among the isolated species of Aspergillus, A. flavus complex (۳۸/۹۶, ۳۹.۶%), A. niger complex (۳۱/۹۶, ۳۲.۳%), and A. fumigatus complex (۱۵/۹۶, ۱۵.۶%) 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. Airborne fungi, Hospital, Indoor air, Equipment, Sources of fungal contamination in the indoor environment of hospitals.

کلیدواژه ها:

Airborne fungi ، Hospital ، Indoor air ، Equipment ، Sources of fungal contamination