Isolation of Fungal Contaminants from Various Working Surface Areas of a Tertiary care Teaching Hospital, Amalapuram
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Hospital environments, particularly those in tertiary care teaching hospitals, play a critical role in patient care and medical education. However, these environments can also serve as reservoirs for various microbial contaminants, including fungi, which pose significant risks to immunocompromised patients, healthcare workers, and visitors. This study aims to assess the incidence of fungal contaminants on various working surface areas in a tertiary care teaching hospital in Amalapuram. By identifying the types and prevalence of fungi present, it is possible to understand the environmental factors contributing to fungal contamination and implement necessary infection control measures.
OBJECTIVES: The principal goal of this study is to identify the presence of fungi on various working surface areas of a Tertiary care Teaching Hospital, Amalapuram.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Moistened swabs were collected from various surface areas including bed rails, door handles, medical equipment, light switches, and nursing stations, ceilings, AC airvents, walls, IV stands etc… and were inoculated on SDA and the fungi were identified based on morphology.
RESULTS: A total of 100 swabs were collected from different areas of the hospital- different wards, OTs, all ICUs. Out of 100 swabs, 64 swabs showed growth on SDA slants. Out of 64 isolates, 23 isolates were Aspergillus niger (40%), 10 were A.fumigatus (15%), 20 were Fusarium (31%), 4 were Curvularia (6%), 2 were Cladosporium (3%), Allescheria boydii -1(1%), Exophiala jaenselmei-1(1%), Gliocladium -1(1%), Phoma -1(1%), Chaetomium -1 (%).
CONCLUSION: Most of the patients in the hospitals are immune compromised. These fungal isolates in the hospital environment may become an additional economic burden to their present situation as most of them are multi drug resistant. So, measures to control hospital infection in the hospital environment mainly ICUs is very much needed
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