Azole resistance is a major concern for treatment of infections with
Aspergillus fumigatus
. Environmental resistance selection is a main route for
Aspergillus
spp. to acquire azole resistance. We investigated the presence of environmental hotspots for resistance selection in the Netherlands on the basis of the ability of
A. fumigatus
to grow and reproduce in the presence of azole fungicide residues. We identified 3 hotspots: flower bulb waste, green waste material, and wood chippings. We recovered azole-resistant
A. fumigatus
from these sites; all fungi contained
cyp51A
tandem repeat–mediated resistance mechanisms identical to those found in clinical isolates. Tebuconazole, epoxiconazole, and prothioconazole were the most frequently found fungicide residues. Stockpiles of plant waste contained the highest levels of azole-resistant
A. fumigatus
, and active aerobic composting reduced
Aspergillus
colony counts. Preventing plant waste stockpiling or creating unfavorable conditions for
A. fumigatus
to grow in stockpiles might reduce environmental resistance burden.
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