First Identification of Emerging Pathogenic Yeast in Clogmia albipunctata (Diptera: Psychodidae) at a Brazilian...

Area of Science:

• Medical entomology
• Clinical microbiology
• Infection prevention

Background:

• Psychodinae, or drain flies, are common in human-modified environments.
• While generally considered harmless, drain flies may harbor and transmit pathogenic microorganisms.
• This poses a risk for hospital environmental contamination and healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the microbial pathogen carriage of drain flies within a hospital environment.
• To assess the potential role of drain flies as vectors of pathogens contributing to HAIs.

Main Methods:

• Twenty-six drain flies (Clogmia albipunctata) were collected from a tertiary hospital.
• Insects were processed within two hours of collection.
• Whole-body macerates were cultured, and fungal isolates were identified using MALDI-TOF MS and ITS sequencing.

Main Results:

• The fungal pathogen Trichosporon asahii was isolated from the collected drain flies.
• Clogmia albipunctata was identified as the species present in the hospital.
• This confirms the presence of a significant fungal pathogen within the hospital's drain fly population.

Conclusions:

• Clogmia albipunctata can act as a mechanical vector for fungal pathogens like Trichosporon asahii.
• Findings emphasize the importance of drain fly surveillance in healthcare settings.
• Monitoring drain flies is crucial for effective infection prevention and control strategies against HAIs.