Fungus microbiota in air conditioners in intensive care units in Teresina, Piauí
01 Nov 2006-Revista Da Sociedade Brasileira De Medicina Tropical (Rev Soc Bras Med Trop)-Vol. 39, Iss: 6, pp 556-559
TL;DR: It is important to provide individual protection equipment for professionals, adopt hospital infection control measures, raise the awareness of the presence of fungus infection, improve air circulation around the environment, periodically clean the air conditioners, and make health professionals alert to the importance of these fungi in the hospital environment.
Abstract: With the aim of identifying the fungus microbiota in air conditioners in intensive care units (ICUs) within public and private hospitals in Teresina, Piaui, solid material was collected from ten different ICUs. Thirty-three species of Moniliaceae and Dematiaceae were isolated, which was the first report of these in Piaui. High frequencies of Aspergillus niger Van Tieghem (60%), Aspergillus fumigatus Fres (50%), Trichoderma koningii Oudem (50%) and Aspergillus flavus Link: Fr. (40%) were recorded. The air conditioner cleanliness validity had expired in all the ICUs, and the quantity of colony-forming units exceeded the levels permitted by Law 176/00 from the Ministry of Health. It is important to provide individual protection equipment for professionals, adopt hospital infection control measures, raise the awareness of the presence of fungus infection, improve air circulation around the environment, periodically clean the air conditioners, and make health professionals alert to the importance of these fungi in the hospital environment.
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TL;DR: It is recommended that the use of 1 % hypochlorite during bed disinfection be added to the hospital biosafety protocol to reduce cross contamination and contribute to patient recovery.
Abstract: This quantitative and qualitative study aimed to identify fungi isolated from patient beds at a reference hospital in Teresina, Piaui, Brazil, and evaluate the efficacy of 70 % ethanol and 1 % hypochlorite for removing the contamination Thirty-eight beds were chosen at random and the collection was carried out in three situations: before and after disinfection with 70 % alcohol or hypochlorite 1 % Each sample was inoculated onto Sabouraud dextrose agar containing chloramphenicol and incubated at room temperature to allow fungal growth We identified 13 species belonging to the genera Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Alternaria, Rhizopus, Penicillium, and Candida All of these species are pathogenic and can worsen the clinical condition of patients The 1 % hypochlorite solution proved to be an efficient disinfectant against the fungi, but the same was not observed using 70 % ethanol Based on these findings, we recommended that the use of 1 % hypochlorite during bed disinfection be added to the hospital biosafety protocol to reduce cross contamination and contribute to patient recovery
9 citations
11 Dec 2012
TL;DR: O objetivo deste trabalho foi identificar a microbiota de aparelhos de ar condicionado das areas criticas dos hospitais publicos e particulares e tracar relacoes desta com as Infeccoes Hospitalares.
Abstract: O objetivo deste trabalho foi identificar a microbiota de aparelhos de ar condicionado das areas criticas dos hospitais publicos e particulares e tracar relacoes desta com as Infeccoes Hospitalares (IH). As coletas foram feitas com swab em um centimetro quadrado dos filtros e paletas dos condicionadores de ar nos hospitais publicos e particulares. Foram encontrados varios microrganismos patogenicos Escherichia coli; Fonsecaea sp., Penicillium sp., Candida sp. e Aspergillus sp. Varios destes microrganismos estao nas listas da ANVISA de microrganismos causadores de IH. Os filtros apresentaram no total mais UFC/cm2 de microrganismos do que as paletas.
Palavras-chave: Microbiologia do Ar; Ar Condicionado; Infeccao Hospitalar.
8 citations
TL;DR: Fungal spores were found in the air of the ICU and Cladosporium spp.
Abstract: INTRODUCTION: An aeromycological study verifies the presence and quantifies the concentration of fungal propagules in the air. It is very important in the hospital setting because of the increasing numbers of immunosuppressed and severely ill patients. The objective of this study was to determine the concentration of fungi in the air of the intensive care unit (ICU) of "Dr. Manuel Gea Gonzalez" General Hospital. METHODS: This is a descriptive, observational cross-sectional study. Air samples were obtained with a single stage Thermo-Andersen Viable Particle Sampler (Thermo Electron Corporation -Massachusetts, U.S.A.) in a Petri dish with potato dextrose agar for 15 minutes at two different times (morning and afternoon) and heights (1 and 1.5 meters). The Petri dishes were incubated for five to seven days at 27oC, the number of colonies was counted, and the total CFU/m3 was determined. The isolated fungal genera were identified by morphological features. Epi Info v. 3.4.3 © was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The mean concentration of fungi in the air of the ICU was 85.08 ± 29.19 CFU/m3; while in the outside air it was 84.3 ± 17.23 CFU/m3 (p = 0.96). The fungi isolated were: Cladosporium spp., Penicillium spp., Aspergillus spp. (non-fumigatus), Fusarium spp., Exophiala spp., Syncephalastrum spp., and Acremonium spp. DISCUSSION: Fungal spores were found in the air of the ICU and Cladosporium spp. was the most frequently isolated fungi. There was no difference according to sampling time or height.
7 citations
TL;DR: The aim of the study was to identify and classify hospital fungal contaminants in units of high complexity, finding that the contamination was significantly lower in AICU than in NICU, and the average concentration of filamentous fungi exceeded the maximum recommended by Resolution N°. 09 of the National Agency for Sanitary Vigilance of 750 CFU/m 3.
Abstract: In recent decades, the contamination of the atmosphere has occupied a prominent place causing countless harm, making it a public health problem which jeopardises in a serious way the hospital environment, bringing a potential risk of hospital infection (HI). The aim of the study was to identify and classify hospital fungal contaminants in units of high complexity. The assessment of air quality was carried out in four categories of environment: High Complexity Intensive Care Adult Unit (AICU), Newborn (NICU), hallways and corridors and external area. The monitoring of these environments was conducted in the morning and afternoon, the air filters were removed and transferred to plates with culture media BDA and incubated at 28°C, isolated and identified. Ten genera of filamentous fungi, pathogenic and toxigenic were found. It was found that, in the afternoon and in the morning, the contamination was significantly lower in AICU (23.3 CFU/m 3 ), with 55.3 CFU/m 3 in NICU. In none of the environments studied, the average concentration of filamentous fungi exceeded the maximum recommended by Resolution N°. 09 of the National Agency for Sanitary Vigilance of 750 CFU/m 3 .
6 citations
TL;DR: This study aimed to analyze the level of specific IgE against airborne fungi in patients with a clinical diagnosis of asthma and rhinitis/sinusitis, and found anti-Penicillium and anti-Fusarium IgE were found to have the highest prevalence of seropositivity in individuals with asthma.
Abstract: Introduction: Respiratory allergies are becoming increasingly frequent, especially based on studies of asthma and rhinitis. It is estimated that 20–30% of the world’s population is affected. Allergic reactions are caused by the production of IgE antibodies specific to inhaled allergens, such as fungi in the air. This study aimed to analyze the level of specific IgE against airborne fungi in patients with a clinical diagnosis of asthma and rhinitis/sinusitis. Methods: In total, 158 patients enrolled in the Program of Support for Asthmatic Patient, and 20 controls were studied. Clinical data from the period of 2007–2008 were surveyed using a protocol form. ELISAs were performed to quantify the levels of total and specific IgE. Results: Of the 158 patients diagnosed with asthma, 71 had rhinitis and 32 had sinusitis. There was a predominance of females and residents of urban areas. The main symptoms reported were dyspnea, cough, wheezing and nasal obstruction. There was a statistically significant rel...
5 citations
References
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18 citations