Fungal contamination of water and water-related surfaces in three hospital wards with immunocompromised patients at risk for invasive fungal infections

Studies suggest that hospital water supplies may serve as a reservoir for fungi and play a role in their spread. The objective of this study was to provide data on the fungal contamination of water, surfaces, and air of areas of water usage in three hospital wards that admit immunocompromised patien...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Journal of infection prevention Vol. 11; no. 2; pp. 36 - 41
Main Authors:	Figueiredo Fonseca, Julia de Castro, Bouakline, Adel, Claisse, Jean-Pierre, Feuilhade, Martine, Baruchel, André, Dombret, Hervé, Pavie, Juliette, Andrade Moreira, Elisabeth Spangler, Derouin, Francis, Lacroix, Claire
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	London, England SAGE Publications 01-03-2010
Subjects:	France Fungi immunocompromised patients epidemiology environment water
Online Access:	Get full text
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Summary:	Studies suggest that hospital water supplies may serve as a reservoir for fungi and play a role in their spread. The objective of this study was to provide data on the fungal contamination of water, surfaces, and air of areas of water usage in three hospital wards that admit immunocompromised patients at risk for invasive fungal infection. Air, surface, and water samples were collected in patients’ rooms and water facilities of each ward. Analysis of 215 water samples show differences between wards in fungal recovery rates and isolated species, but Fusarium spp. were the predominant fungi. On the 838 surface samples, a similar fungal diversity was found and Fusarium spp. were the predominant fungi. Aspergillus spp. dominated among the moulds recovered from air. This study confirms that different moulds, mainly Fusarium spp., are present in water and surfaces and that prevention of the risk of nosocomial fungal infection should include a stringent maintenance and cleaning of water facilities.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-2 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-1 content type line 23
ISSN:	1757-1774 1757-1782
DOI:	10.1177/1757177409358416