1
|
Hajhosseini M, Sharifi I, Bamorovat M, Karamoozian A, Amanizadeh A, Agha Kuchak Afshari S. Monitoring of airborne fungi during the second wave of COVID-19 in selected wards of the referral university hospital in southeastern Iran. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2023; 195:1132. [PMID: 37653110 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-023-11791-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
Microbiological monitoring of the air hospital is essential for prevention and control, due to the possible airborne route of infection transmission, especially in high-risk wards. This study aimed to monitor the airborne fungi during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in selected wards of the biggest university educational hospital in Kerman, southeastern Iran. This study was conducted in 11 different wards, separated into the patient room and nursing station, of the Afzalipour hospital from May to August 2021. Fungal isolates were characterized to the species level by conventional and sequencing methods. Out of 93 obtained fungal colonies, 70 (75.3%) isolates were filamentous and 23 (24.7%) isolates were yeast. Aspergillus species were the predominant fungal isolates among the filamentous colonies (n=19; 27.1%), and Naganishia albida (formerly Cryptococcus albidus) was identified as the most common yeast isolate (n=13/23; 56.8%). The infectious ward was the most contaminated unit (n=19/93), while the least contaminated units were the neonatal intensive care unit (n=3/93), and oncology (n=3/93). The statistical findings displayed that the number of fungal isolates in patients' rooms is significantly higher than in nurses' stations (p-value=0.013). Our study demonstrated the presence of diverse fungal species in all wards of the hospital. Considering the presence of airborne fungi in hospitals and related public health problems is one of the critical issues for health systems management. In this regard, efficient monitoring of airborne fungi might play an influential role in hospital infection control and surveillance, particularly in high-risk hospitalization patients in critical wards.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mahdi Hajhosseini
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Environmental Science and Technology Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
- Medical Mycology and Bacteriology Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Iraj Sharifi
- Leishmaniasis Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Mehdi Bamorovat
- Leishmaniasis Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Ali Karamoozian
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Faculty of Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Azam Amanizadeh
- Medical Mycology and Bacteriology Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Afzalipour Faculty of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Setareh Agha Kuchak Afshari
- Medical Mycology and Bacteriology Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Afzalipour Faculty of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Haghani I, Shams-Ghahfarokhi M, Dalimi Asl A, Shokohi T, Hedayati MT. Prevalence, genetic diversity and antifungal susceptibility profiles of F. fujikuroi, F. solani, and Fusarium incarnatum-equiseti species complexes from onychomycosis in North of Iran. Mycoses 2022; 65:1030-1039. [PMID: 35775829 DOI: 10.1111/myc.13489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Revised: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Onychomycosis, a nail fungal infection, is normally caused by dermatophytes. However, yeasts and non-dermatophyte molds (NDM) are among pathogens that cause nail disease. Regarding, this study aimed to describe the molecular epidemiology of Fusarium onychomycosis in the North of Iran. 257 nail samples collected from the patients clinically suspected of onychomycosis were subjected to direct microscopy, calcofluor white staining, and culture. Fusarium isolates were identified at a species level through determination of multi-locus sequences for internal transcribed spacer and translation elongation factor 1 alpha. Based on the findings, Fusarium species were isolated from onychomycosis patients (n=27). According to a previous partial genes analysis, the species in the resent study belonged to the members of F. fujikuroi species complex (n=14), Fusarium incarnatum-equiseti species complex (n=1) and F. solani species complex (n=12). In rhis study, F. proliferatum was the dominant Fusarium species collected from the samples. The correct identification of Fusarium species is essential regarding the increased prevalence of Fusarium onychomycosis and the inherent resistance of these agents to a wide spectrum of antifungals. The obtained results indicated variation in the epidemiology of Fusarium species isolated from onychomycosis. Moreover, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of luliconazole and lanoconazole was in the range of 0.001-1 μg/mL, with the geometric mean of MICs obtained at 0.0103 and 0.0343 μg/mL against Fusarium species, respectively. These findings can increase researchers' knowledge regarding diversity of species, distribution of onychomycosis, and the choice of a proper treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Iman Haghani
- Department of Mycology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.,Department of Medical Mycology and Invasive Fungi Research Center, Communicable Diseases Institute, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | | | - Abdolhossein Dalimi Asl
- Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Tahereh Shokohi
- Department of Medical Mycology and Invasive Fungi Research Center, Communicable Diseases Institute, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Mohammad Taghi Hedayati
- Department of Medical Mycology and Invasive Fungi Research Center, Communicable Diseases Institute, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Assress HA, Selvarajan R, Nyoni H, Ogola HJO, Mamba BB, Msagati TAM. Azole antifungal resistance in fungal isolates from wastewater treatment plant effluents. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:3217-3229. [PMID: 32914303 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-10688-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2020] [Accepted: 08/30/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) can be significant sources of antifungal resistant fungi, which can disseminate further in the environment by getting into rivers together with effluents discharged from WWTPs and pose a risk for human health. In this study, the presence of azole resistance was determined in fungal isolates from treated effluents of two WWTPs using the standard microdilution method from Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). A total of 41 fungal isolates representing 23 fungal species and 16 fungal genera were obtained. Fungal genera related to the known human and/or plant pathogens such as Aspergillus, Fusarium, and Candida were detected. Among the observed species, the susceptibility of Aspergillus fumigatus and Fusarium oxysporum was tested against fluconazole (FCZ), ketoconazole (KTZ), itraconazole (ITZ), and voriconazole (VCZ). The isolate A. fumigatus was susceptible to KTZ, ITZ, and VCZ, while it showed resistance against FCZ. On the contrast, the isolate F. oxysporum showed resistance to KTZ, ITZ, and VCZ. Comparatively, VCZ showed highest activity against both A. fumigatus and F. oxysporum. Analysis of the gene Cyp51A for the A. fumigatus isolate showed no evidence of drug resistance that could be related to point mutations and/or tandem repeats in the gene. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first susceptibility test study on A. fumigatus and F. oxysporum isolates from the WWTPs of South Africa. In conclusion, this study indicated an urgent need for thorough investigation with larger group of fungal isolates from different regions of South Africa to broadly understand the role of WWTPs in the dissemination of azole antifungal drug resistance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hailemariam Abrha Assress
- College of Science Engineering and Technology, Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability Research Unit, UNISA Science Campus, University of South Africa, P.O. Box 392, UNISA 0003, Florida-Park, Roodepoort, Johannesburg, 1709, South Africa
| | - Ramganesh Selvarajan
- College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, UNISA Science Campus, University of South Africa, P.O. Box 392, UNISA 0003, Florida, Johannesburg, 1709, South Africa
| | - Hlengilizwe Nyoni
- College of Science Engineering and Technology, Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability Research Unit, UNISA Science Campus, University of South Africa, P.O. Box 392, UNISA 0003, Florida-Park, Roodepoort, Johannesburg, 1709, South Africa
| | - Henry Joseph Oduor Ogola
- College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, UNISA Science Campus, University of South Africa, P.O. Box 392, UNISA 0003, Florida, Johannesburg, 1709, South Africa
| | - Bhekie B Mamba
- College of Science Engineering and Technology, Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability Research Unit, UNISA Science Campus, University of South Africa, P.O. Box 392, UNISA 0003, Florida-Park, Roodepoort, Johannesburg, 1709, South Africa
- State Key Laboratory of Separation Membranes and Membrane Process/National Center for International Joint Research on Membrane Science and Technology, Tianjin, 300387, People's Republic of China
| | - Titus A M Msagati
- College of Science Engineering and Technology, Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability Research Unit, UNISA Science Campus, University of South Africa, P.O. Box 392, UNISA 0003, Florida-Park, Roodepoort, Johannesburg, 1709, South Africa.
- School of Life Sciences and Bio-Engineering, The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, P O Box 447, Tengeru, Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania.
| |
Collapse
|