do Nascimento, J.P.M.; dos Santos, R.; dos Santos Silva, M.S.; de Araújo, M.A.; Anhezini, L.; dos Santos, D.É.; da Silva-Filho, E.A. Indoor Air Contamination by Yeasts in Healthcare Facilities: Risks of Invasive Fungal Infection. Aerobiology2023, 1, 3-18.
do Nascimento, J.P.M.; dos Santos, R.; dos Santos Silva, M.S.; de Araújo, M.A.; Anhezini, L.; dos Santos, D.É.; da Silva-Filho, E.A. Indoor Air Contamination by Yeasts in Healthcare Facilities: Risks of Invasive Fungal Infection. Aerobiology 2023, 1, 3-18.
do Nascimento, J.P.M.; dos Santos, R.; dos Santos Silva, M.S.; de Araújo, M.A.; Anhezini, L.; dos Santos, D.É.; da Silva-Filho, E.A. Indoor Air Contamination by Yeasts in Healthcare Facilities: Risks of Invasive Fungal Infection. Aerobiology2023, 1, 3-18.
do Nascimento, J.P.M.; dos Santos, R.; dos Santos Silva, M.S.; de Araújo, M.A.; Anhezini, L.; dos Santos, D.É.; da Silva-Filho, E.A. Indoor Air Contamination by Yeasts in Healthcare Facilities: Risks of Invasive Fungal Infection. Aerobiology 2023, 1, 3-18.
Abstract
Background: Fungi are ubiquitous microorganisms that are easily dispersed through the air. In healthcare environments, indoor air can favor the spread of healthcare-associated fungal infections, compromising mainly immunocompromised hospitalized individuals. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the indoor air contamination in healthcare environments, investigating mainly the presence of potentially pathogenic yeasts. Methods: Indoor air samples were collected from twelve healthcare environments (hospital and medical clinics). After the growth, isolation, and purification of the yeast colonies, the isolates were identified by polymerase chain reaction using species-specific primers for yeasts of the genus Candida and sequencing of D1/D2 domains of the large ribosomal subunit (LSU rRNA). Results: Fourteen yeast species were identified, including emerging pathogens. Species of clinical importance such as Candida parapsilosis, Candida orthopsilosis, Candida glabrata, Rhodotorula mucilaginosa, and Trichosporon mucoides were present. C. Parapsilosis was the most prevalent species, followed by Rodothorula mucilaginosa. Conclusions: The present study shows that potentially fungal pathogens were present in air samples from healthcare environments, proving the role of indoor air in spreading infections. Thus, monitoring air quality in healthcare environments is a fundamental approach in developing infection control measures, especially those related to invasive fungal infections.
Keywords
Healthcare-associated infections; indoor air quality; infection control; Candida
Subject
Public Health and Healthcare, Public, Environmental and Occupational Health
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
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