Seasonal Distribution of Fungi in Soil Found in Two Hospitals in Bandar Abbas, Iran
Keywords:
fungi, soil microbiology, hospital, seasonsAbstract
Introduction: Fungal contamination in hospitals has been a major health concern, especially in immunosuppressed patients. Construction programs increase the risk of fungal contaminations in hospitals. This study aimed to monitor and compare fungal contamination in two hospitals in Bandar Abbas, Iran, one of which was undergoing construction. Furthermore, the study determined the seasonal variations in the prevalence of fungi identified in the two hospitals.
Methods: This study was conducted during April-December 2014 on 146 soil samples collected from the Shahid Mohammadi Hospital that was under construction and the Shariati Hospital that was not involved in any construction program. The soil samples were collected in the morning from the dust on the ground. Statistical analysis was performed using the chi-squared test.
Results: Among the fungal cultures, 83.56% were found to be positive. We identified 122 fungal isolates, representing 16 genera, 13 of the genera were isolated from Shahid Mohammadi Hospital and 14 were isolated from Shariati Hospital. Aspergillus was the dominant fungus in both hospitals. In Shariati Hospital, 100% of Aspergiluss niger were isolated in the summer. In the spring, Mocur was dominant in both hospitals, and, in the winter, Rhizopus spp. was the dominant fungus in Shahid Mohammadi Hospital (55.5%); however, this fungus was dominant in spring in Shariati Hospital (66.7%). In Shariati Hospital, Scopulariopsis, Drechslera, Penicillium spp., and Yeasts were present only in the fall, whereas yeast was the dominant fungus in summer (100%) in Shahid Mohammadi Hospital. There were not significant differences between two hospitals, with the exception of Fusarium spp., which was more frequent in Shariati Hospital, where no renovation was taking place (p = 0.008).
Conclusion: Our results indicated that specific ecological niches existed in the two general hospitals in Bandar Abbas. Special attention should be paid to environmental control programs. It is recommended that soil exposure be considered in patients’ histories in addition to the current focus on infections related to food and water.
References
Vincent JL, Rello J, Marshall J, Silva E, Anzueto A, Martin CD, et al. International study of the prevalence
and outcomes of infection in intensive care units. Jama. 2009; 302 (21): 2323-9. doi: 10.
/jam.2009.1754. PMID: 19952319
Badiee P, Alborzi A, Joukar M. Molecular assay to detect nosocomial fungal infections in intensive care
units. Eur J Intern Med. 2011; 22 (6): 611-5. doi: 10.1016/j.ejim.2011.08.025. PMID: 22075290
Kanamori H1, Rutala WA, Sickbert-Bennett EE, Weber DJ. Review of Fungal Outbreaks and Infection
Prevention in Healthcare Settings During Construction and Renovation. Clin Infect Dis. 2015; 61 (3): 433- 44. doi: 10.1093/cid/civ297. PMID: 25870328
Shor E, Perlin DS. Coping with stress and the emergence of multidrug resistance in fungi. PLoS pathog.
; 11 (3): e1004668. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1004668. PMID: 25790300, PMCID: PMC4366371
Faure O, Fricker-Hidalgo H, Lebeau B, Mallaret MR, Ambroise-Thomas P, Grillot R. Eight-year
surveillance of environmental fungal contamination in hospital operating rooms and haematological units. J
Hosp Infect. 2002; 50 (2): 155-60. doi: 10.1053/jhin.2001.1148. PMID: 11846544
Le T, Wolbers M, Chi NH, Quang VM, Chinh NT, Lan NP, et al. Epidemiology, seasonality, and
predictors of outcome of AIDS-associated Penicillium marneffei infection in Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam.
Clin Infect Dis. 2011; 52 (7): 945-52. doi: 10.1093/cid/cir028. PMID: 21427403, PMCID: PMC3106230
Baumgardner DJ. Soil-related bacterial and fungal infections. JABFM. 2012; 25 (5): 734-44. doi:
3122/jabfm.2012.05.110226
Perdelli F, Cristina ML, Sartini M, Spagnolo AM, Dallera M, Ottria G, et al. Fungal contamination in
hospital environments. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2006; 27 (1): 44-7. PMID: 16418986
Menzin J, Meyers JL, Friedman M, Korn JR, Perfect JR, Langston AA, et al. The economic costs to United
States hospitals of invasive fungal infections in transplant patients. Am J Infect control. 2011; 39 (4): e15- 20. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2010.06.009. PMID: 20961657
Drgona L, Khachatryan A, Stephens J, Charbonneau C, Kantecki M, Haider S, et al. Clinical and economic
burden of invasive fungal diseases in Europe: focus on pre-emptive and empirical treatment of Aspergillus
and Candida species. Eur J Clin Microbiol infect Dis. 2014; 33 (1): 7-21. doi: 10.1007/s10096-013-1944-3.
PMCID: PMC3892112
Statistical center of Iran, Management & planning organization. Bandar Abbas statistics. Available from
https://www.amar.org.ir/Default.aspx?tabid=667&fid=14095
Singh I, Mishra A, Kushwaha R. Dermatophytes, related keratinophilic and opportunistic fungi in indoor
dust of houses and hospitals. Indian J Med Microbiol. 2009; 27 (3): 242-6. DOI: 10.4103/0255-0857.53207
Aghamirian MR, Ghiasian SA. ThePrevalence of Fungi in Soil of Qazvin, Iran. Jundishapur J Microbiol.
; 6 (1): 76-79. doi: 105812/jjm4591.
Hedayati MT, Mayahi S, Aghili R, Goharimoghadam K. Airborne fungi in indoor and outdoor of asthmatic
patients’ home, living in the city of sari. Iran J Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2005; 4 (4): 189-91. PMID:
Hedayati MT, Mohseni-Bandpi A, Moradi S. A survey on the pathogenic fungi in soil samples of potted
plants from Sari hospitals. Iran J Hosp Infect. 2004; 58 (1): 59-62. PMID: 15350715
Rainer J, Peintner U, Pöder R. Biodiversity and concentration of airborne fungi in a hospital environment.
Mycopathologia. 2000; 149 (2): 87–97. doi: 10.1023/A:1007273131130
Shadzi S, Zahraee MH, ChadeganiPour M. Incidence of airborne fungi in Isfahan, Iran. Mycoses. 1993; 36
(1-2): 69-73. doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0507.1993.tb00689.x. PMID: 8316264
Arvanitidou M, Kanellou K, Constantinides TC, Katsouyannopoulos V. The occurrence of fungi in hospital
and community potable waters. Lett appl microbiol. 1999; 29 (2): 81-4. doi: 10.1046/j.1365- 2672.1999.00583.x. PMID: 10499294
Shokoohi T, Bakhshi H, Hedayati MT. Distribution of fungi and Actinomycetes in the soil of different
regions of Sari and its suburbs. J Kermanshah Univ Med Sci. 2005; 8 (23): 57-69.
Moallaei H, Zaini F, Pihet M, Mahmoudi M, Hashemi J. Isolation of Keratinophilic Fungi from Soil
Samples of Forests and Farm Yards . Iranian J Publ Health 2006; 35(4): 62-69.
Zarei Mahmoudabadi A, Zarrin M. Isolation of dermatophytes and related keratinophilic fungi from the
two public parks in Ahvaz. Jundishapur J Microbiol. 2008; 1(1): 20-3.
Sautour M, Sixt N, Dalle F, L'Ollivier C, Fourquenet V, Calinon C, et al. Profiles and seasonal distribution
of airborne fungi in indoor and outdoor environments at a French hospital. Sci Total Environ. 2009;
(12): 3766-71. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2009.02.024. PMID: 19286244
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2020 knowledge kingdom publishing
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
