Survival of Some Medically Important Fungi on Hospital Fabrics and Plastics

Abstract

Tests of the survival of Candida spp., Aspergillus spp., a Fusarium sp., a Mucor sp., and a Paecilomyces sp. on hospital fabrics and plastics indicated that viability was variable, with most fungi surviving at least 1 day but many living for weeks. These findings reinforce the need for appropriate disinfection and conscientious contact control precautions.Fungal infections are an increasing risk, especially for patients who are immunocompromised by diseases or traumas or for patients immunosuppressed because of preparation for organ transplantation, treatment of cancers, or autoimmune diseases (3,4,5,8,10). As fungi become increasingly more resistant to the limited antifungal agents available, the physician's ability to control these infections with antifungals decreases (1, 4). An alternative or additional means of control is to decrease the exposure of the patient to these microorganisms, thereby preventing an infection from occurring. Limited data are available about the survival of fungi that commonly cause nosocomial infections in compromised patients on typical hospital materials(2, 9). As an initial step in determining if fabrics and plastics might serve as reservoirs or fomites for the transmission of fungi to patients, the ability of some medically important fungi to survive on common hospital materials, such as privacy curtains, towels, scrub suits, plastic splash aprons, and computer keyboard covers, was examined.The following were tested: two isolates each of Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, Candida krusei, and Candida parapsilosis; three isolates each of Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus niger, and Aspergillus terreus; and one isolate each of a Fusarium sp., a Mucor sp., and a Paecilomyces sp. With the exception of one each of the Aspergillus isolates, which were isolated from environmental surfaces in our hospital, all fungal strains used were isolated from burn patients at our hospital.All Candida species were grown overnight at 35°C in yeast extract-peptone-dextrose (1% yeast extract, 2% peptone, 2% dextrose; Difco Laboratories, Detroit, Mich.) broth and adjusted to 10 6 to 10 7 CFU per ml using a Klett-Summerson (New York, N.Y.) colorimeter. Molds were grown on Sabouraud dextrose (Becton Dickinson, Cockeysville, Md.) agar for 3 to 5 days depending upon the time needed for that genus and species to form spores. Spores were harvested by rinsing the plates, their concentration was determined by counting with a hemocytometer, and the spores were refrigerated overnight. The following day, enough spores were added to yeast extract-peptone-dextrose broth to give a concentration of 10 6 to 10 7 CFU/ml and then incubated until filaments began to form, a period of 6 to 17 h depending upon the particular fungi.Fungal survival was tested on the following materials, each of which are commonly used in our hospital: 100% smooth cotton (clothing), 100% cotton terry (towels, washcloths), 60% cotton-40% polyester blends (scrub suits, lab coats, clothes), 100% polyester (privacy curtains)...

A Microbial Survey of Second Hand Clothe Samples Collected from Baghdad Market

“…A previous study refered that Staphylococci can survive for years in dust and soil particles, also it can resist the dryness conditions and tolerant high temperature, such bacterial characteristics allows it to survived on fabric and clothes for a long time and most of clothes and undergarments frequency contact with the previous owner skin, expect to colonize with potentially pathogenic bacteria [4]. For Staphylococci sp., our results come agree with those of Nelly et al [5] and Loh et al [19] who reported that S. aureus can survive for long periods on hospital fabrics to become epidemiological.…”

“…In a study conducted by Nelly et al (2001), Candida, Aspergillus, Mucor, and Fusarium which are associated with nosocomial infections in patients survived long periods on fabrics and plastics which are routinely used in hospitals. These survival results indicate the potential for various fabrics and plastics to serve as reservoirs or vectors for fungi [5].…”

“…Neely et al [5] 2001 indicated in their study the survival of yeasts on various surfaces, such as the survival of Aspergillus in common hospital fabrics and plastics. The results of current study agrees with the reference [5] conclusions.…”

“…In a research carried out by Nelly the records referred that Enterococci and Staphylococci can survive for extended periods of time on materials commonly wear by patients and health care workers and on various other fabrics in the hospital environment [5] while another study refers that neckties worn by doctors at an intensive care unit produced heavy growths of coagulase negative Staphylococcus on 2/5 ties tested [3]. Studies have revealed that a variety of objects, such as tools, toys, and clothes, can serve as vehicles for the transmission of Shigella sp.…”

A model of the transmission of micro-organisms in a public setting and its correlation to pathogen infection risks

“…Recently, it has been shown that the causative agents of athlete's foot can be transferred from contaminated garments to clean ones whilst they are stored together in the laundry basket or whilst washed together at low temperature (Hammer et al 2011). Bacteria, yeasts and mould fungi have been shown to survive for several months on textile surfaces as well as on plastics (Neely and Maley 2000;Neely and Orloff 2001).…”