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Indoor airborne fungal pollution in newborn units in Turkey

Rasime Demirel1, Burhan Sen2, Duygu Kadaifciler3

  • 1Faculty of Science Department of Biology, Anadolu University, 26470, Eskisehir, Turkey. rasime.demirel@gmail.com.

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment
|July 2, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Hospital airborne fungi pose risks to vulnerable newborns. This study identified common fungal genera like Penicillium and Aspergillus in Turkish neonatal units, highlighting the need for air quality monitoring to prevent infections.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Mycology
  • Environmental Microbiology
  • Hospital Epidemiology

Background:

  • Pathogenic and opportunistic fungi are significant causes of hospital-acquired infections, particularly in immunocompromised individuals.
  • Indoor fungal contamination in healthcare settings is linked to adverse health outcomes.
  • Neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) house infants with immature immune systems, classifying them as immunocompromised patients.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the types and prevalence of culturable airborne fungi in hospital newborn units across four regions of Turkey.
  • To provide data for implementing strategies to mitigate fungal infection risks in neonatal environments.

Main Methods:

  • Seasonal air sampling was conducted in newborn units from July 2012 to April 2013.
  • An air sampler and dichloran 18% glycerol agar (DG18) were used for fungal isolation.
  • Identified fungal isolates to species level using multi-loci gene sequencing.

Main Results:

  • A total of 2593 fungal colonies, representing 370 isolates and 109 species from 28 genera, were identified.
  • The most prevalent fungal genera were Penicillium (35.14%), Aspergillus (25.40%), Cladosporium (17.57%), Talaromyces (2.70%), and Alternaria (6.22%).

Conclusions:

  • Airborne fungal diversity in Turkish newborn units includes potentially pathogenic species.
  • Regular monitoring of airborne fungi is crucial for infection control in neonatal care settings.
  • Findings underscore the importance of maintaining optimal air quality in hospitals to protect vulnerable infant populations.
Keywords:
FungiHospitalIndoor airNewbornTurkey

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