Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 20, 2026
Detection of Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis in Haematological Malignancy Patients by using Lateral-flow Technology
Published on: March 22, 2012
Molecular characterization of Aspergillus infections in an Iranian educational hospital using RAPD-PCR method
Kambiz Diba1, Khadijeh Makhdoomi2, Hossein Mirhendi3
1Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran.
Objectives:
The nosocomial infections by Aspergillus species are associated with constructions and increased dust loads in hospital indoors. Our main object was to find the environmental sources of Aspergillus species causing hospital acquired infections.
Materials And Methods:
The clinical and environmental samplings were performed during 18 months from spring 2010 to summer 2011 in Imam educational hospital, Urmia, Iran. A morphological diagnosis was performed including microscopic characterization of isolated aspergillus from cultured specimens and polymerase chain reaction - restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) for the identification in the level of species. Random amplified polymorphic DNA - PCR RAPD-PCR using random primers for rDNA gene was performed to compare Aspergillus isolates of clinical cases with the relevant environmental sources.
Results:
Use of RAPD method resulted various differential patterns, so that some Aspergillus isolates from the clinical and hospital indoor were completely matched (matched pairs) and some other Aspergillus isolates were not matched. In the case of matched pairs, Aspergillus niger and A. flavus isolated from broncoalveolar lavage and sinus discharge were relevant to those of air conditioner and walls surfaces, respectively.
Conclusion:
The hospital sources for the Aspergillus clinical isolates included air condition and walls. RAPD-PCR analysis can play a trivial role to find the hospital sources of Aspergillus clinical isolates.
Insights
Hospital-acquired Aspergillus infections were traced to environmental sources like air conditioners and walls. Random amplified polymorphic DNA-PCR (RAPD-PCR) helped identify these Aspergillus species, linking clinical cases to specific hospital locations.
Area of Science:
- Medical Mycology
- Hospital Epidemiology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Nosocomial infections caused by Aspergillus species are a significant concern in healthcare settings, often linked to construction and increased dust.
- Identifying the environmental reservoirs of Aspergillus is crucial for preventing hospital-acquired infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the environmental sources of Aspergillus species responsible for hospital-acquired infections.
- To investigate the relationship between clinical Aspergillus isolates and potential environmental origins within a hospital.
Main Methods:
- Clinical and environmental samples were collected over 18 months.
- Aspergillus species were identified using morphological diagnosis, PCR-RFLP, and Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA-PCR (RAPD-PCR).
- RAPD-PCR was employed to compare clinical isolates with environmental sources.
Main Results:
- RAPD-PCR revealed distinct patterns, enabling the matching of some clinical Aspergillus isolates with environmental sources.
- Matched pairs identified Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus from clinical samples (bronchoalveolar lavage, sinus discharge) originating from air conditioners and wall surfaces, respectively.
- Unmatched isolates also indicated potential environmental dissemination pathways.
Conclusions:
- Air conditioning units and walls were identified as significant hospital sources for clinical Aspergillus isolates.
- RAPD-PCR analysis proved valuable in tracing the environmental origins of Aspergillus causing hospital infections.
Related Concept Videos
02:57Real Time RT-PCR
The real-time quantification of the number of amplified products is...
01:25Rapid Identification of Pathogens