Airborne Fungi in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Operating Theater in a University Hospital

Abstract

Monitoring the microbiological quality of indoor air in hospital environments is a matter of comprehensive discussion due to its influence on the transmission and spread of pathogenic microorganisms. Among the artificially air-conditioned environments, hospitals are noteworthy for being specific places for the treatment and recovery of patients. In addition to problems related to patients health and professionals health, immunocompromised patients are more exposed to microorganisms present in the air currents of the refrigeration system in these environments, which can lead to consequences such as the occurrence of outbreaks. The objective of this work was to evaluate the indoor air quality in critical hospital environments of a teaching hospital in the city of Maceió, the state of Alagoas. In addition, we sought to identify the anemophilous fungal microbiota present. Air collections were taken in the rainy season, totaling, following recommendations indicated by Resolution No. 9 of the Brazilian National Health Surveillance Agency. The study was based on determining the concentration parameter of bioaerosols in indoor and outdoor air. The fungal microbiota identification was carried out by analyzing macro and microscopic characteristics for filamentous fungi and the use of molecular tools for yeasts. The most frequent species in hospital critical environments were Cladosporium cladosporioides, Penicillium piceum, Penicillium aurantiogriseum, Cladosporium herbarum and Aspergillus oryzae. In outdoor air, the most frequently found fungi were Penicillium sp., Aspergillus sp., and Cladosporium species. Candida tropicalis, C. krusei, and C. parapsilosis were identified among the yeasts in indoor and outdoor air samples. Identifying potentially pathogenic fungi in the evaluated environments points to the need for continuous monitoring of indoor air quality. Furthermore, to avoid the widespread fungal pathogens and the consequent occurrence of outbreaks, the adoption of indoor air microbiological quality analysis programs is suggested as an essential tool in developing infection control standards. In our study, airborne fungi are reported as indoor air contaminants in critical hospital environments. This finding is noteworthy because, in general, individuals present in these environments have an immunological impairment.

Fungal identification in the air and water of a hemodialysis unit in Brazil

“…The predominance of fungal genera Cladosporium spp., Penicillium spp., and Aspergillus spp. in the air samples of the hospital environment is consistent with previous studies that highlighted the adaptation of these microorganisms to diverse environments (Menezes et al, 2006;Lobato et al, 2009;Shams-Ghahfarokhi et al, 2014;Calumby et al, 2019;Pedrosa et al, 2022). Furthermore, research conducted in Brazil and other countries, such as those by Mezzari et al (2003), Martins-Diniz et al (2005, Flores and Onofre (2010), Souza et al (2019), andGao et al (2022), confirmed the high occurrence of Cladosporium species in microbiological surveys of indoor airborne fungi.…”

Indoor Air Contamination by Yeasts in Healthcare Facilities: Risks of Invasive Fungal Infection

“…However, due to a culture-dependent approach, the authors could not identify the isolates obtained at the species level, limiting the knowledge of Candida diversity in the analyzed environments. Like us, Pedrosa and colleagues [40] used a culture-based approach and the PCR assay to identify yeast isolates in indoor air at a University Hospital. They found contamination in critical areas by Candida tropicalis, Candida krusei, and C. parapsilosis.…”