Broad Diversity of Fungi in Hospital Water
Introduction. Some studies have reported the occurrence of microorganisms isolated from water. Considering these microorganisms, fungi are known to occur ubiquitously in the environment, including water, and some are pathogenic and may cause health problems, especially in immunocompromised individua...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2020-01-01
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| Series: | The Scientific World Journal |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/9358542 |
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| author | Máira Gazzola Arroyo Adriano Menis Ferreira Oleci Pereira Frota Natalia Seron Brizzotti-Mazuchi Jacqueline Tanury Macruz Peresi Marcelo Alessandro Rigotti Carlos Eduardo Macedo Alvaro Francisco Lopes de Sousa Denise de Andrade Margarete Teresa Gottardo de Almeida |
| author_facet | Máira Gazzola Arroyo Adriano Menis Ferreira Oleci Pereira Frota Natalia Seron Brizzotti-Mazuchi Jacqueline Tanury Macruz Peresi Marcelo Alessandro Rigotti Carlos Eduardo Macedo Alvaro Francisco Lopes de Sousa Denise de Andrade Margarete Teresa Gottardo de Almeida |
| author_sort | Máira Gazzola Arroyo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction. Some studies have reported the occurrence of microorganisms isolated from water. Considering these microorganisms, fungi are known to occur ubiquitously in the environment, including water, and some are pathogenic and may cause health problems, especially in immunocompromised individuals. The aim of this study was to identify fungi in hospital water samples and to correlate their presence with the concentration of free residual chlorine. Methods. Water samples (100 mL) were collected from taps (n = 74) and water purifiers (n = 14) in different locations in a university hospital. Samples were filtered through a nitrocellulose membrane and placed on Sabouraud dextrose agar and incubated for 24 hours at 30∘C. Fungi were identified according to established methods based on macroscopic and microscopic characteristics (filamentous) and physiological tests (yeasts). Free chlorine residual content was measured at the time of sample collection. Results. Seventy species of fungi were identified in the water samples and about 56% of the water samples contained culturable fungi. Cladosporium oxysporum, Penicillium spinulosum, and Aspergillus fumigatus were the most common filamentous fungi. Aureobasidium pullulans and Candida parapsilosis were the most common yeasts. Chemical analyses revealed that free residual chlorine was present in 81.8% of the samples within recommended concentrations. Among samples from water purifiers, 92.9% showed low levels of free residual chlorine (<0.2 mg/L). There was no significant association between chlorine concentrations (either within or outside the recommended range) and the presence of filamentous fungi and yeasts. Conclusions. This study showed that hospital water can be a reservoir for fungi, some of which are potentially harmful to immunocompromised patients. Free residual chlorine was ineffective in some samples. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8473378fb6ac466681514c1d3d0f2999 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2356-6140 1537-744X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2020-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The Scientific World Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-8473378fb6ac466681514c1d3d0f29992025-02-03T05:44:15ZengWileyThe Scientific World Journal2356-61401537-744X2020-01-01202010.1155/2020/93585429358542Broad Diversity of Fungi in Hospital WaterMáira Gazzola Arroyo0Adriano Menis Ferreira1Oleci Pereira Frota2Natalia Seron Brizzotti-Mazuchi3Jacqueline Tanury Macruz Peresi4Marcelo Alessandro Rigotti5Carlos Eduardo Macedo6Alvaro Francisco Lopes de Sousa7Denise de Andrade8Margarete Teresa Gottardo de Almeida9Postgraduate Program in Microbiology, São Paulo State University, Sreet Cristóvão Colombo, 2265 Garden Nazareth, São José do Rio Preto, SP 15054-000, BrazilPostgraduate Program Nursing and Medical Course, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Três Lagoas, MS 79600-080, BrazilPostgraduate Program in Nursing Course, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, MS 79070-900, BrazilDepartment of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, School of Medicine of São José Do Rio Preto, São José do Rio Preto, SP 15090-000, BrazilAdolfo Lutz Institute, Regional Laboratory of São José do Rio Preto, São José do Rio Preto, SP 15060-020, BrazilNursing Course, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Três Lagoas, MS 79600-080, BrazilPostgraduate Program in Health and Development in the Midwest, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Três Lagoas, MS 79600-080, BrazilDepartment of General and Specialized Nursing, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto School of Nursing, Ribeirão Preto, SP 14049-900, BrazilDepartment of General and Specialized Nursing, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto School of Nursing, Ribeirão Preto, SP 14049-900, BrazilDepartment of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, School of Medicine of São José Do Rio Preto, São José do Rio Preto, SP 15090-000, BrazilIntroduction. Some studies have reported the occurrence of microorganisms isolated from water. Considering these microorganisms, fungi are known to occur ubiquitously in the environment, including water, and some are pathogenic and may cause health problems, especially in immunocompromised individuals. The aim of this study was to identify fungi in hospital water samples and to correlate their presence with the concentration of free residual chlorine. Methods. Water samples (100 mL) were collected from taps (n = 74) and water purifiers (n = 14) in different locations in a university hospital. Samples were filtered through a nitrocellulose membrane and placed on Sabouraud dextrose agar and incubated for 24 hours at 30∘C. Fungi were identified according to established methods based on macroscopic and microscopic characteristics (filamentous) and physiological tests (yeasts). Free chlorine residual content was measured at the time of sample collection. Results. Seventy species of fungi were identified in the water samples and about 56% of the water samples contained culturable fungi. Cladosporium oxysporum, Penicillium spinulosum, and Aspergillus fumigatus were the most common filamentous fungi. Aureobasidium pullulans and Candida parapsilosis were the most common yeasts. Chemical analyses revealed that free residual chlorine was present in 81.8% of the samples within recommended concentrations. Among samples from water purifiers, 92.9% showed low levels of free residual chlorine (<0.2 mg/L). There was no significant association between chlorine concentrations (either within or outside the recommended range) and the presence of filamentous fungi and yeasts. Conclusions. This study showed that hospital water can be a reservoir for fungi, some of which are potentially harmful to immunocompromised patients. Free residual chlorine was ineffective in some samples.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/9358542 |
| spellingShingle | Máira Gazzola Arroyo Adriano Menis Ferreira Oleci Pereira Frota Natalia Seron Brizzotti-Mazuchi Jacqueline Tanury Macruz Peresi Marcelo Alessandro Rigotti Carlos Eduardo Macedo Alvaro Francisco Lopes de Sousa Denise de Andrade Margarete Teresa Gottardo de Almeida Broad Diversity of Fungi in Hospital Water The Scientific World Journal |
| title | Broad Diversity of Fungi in Hospital Water |
| title_full | Broad Diversity of Fungi in Hospital Water |
| title_fullStr | Broad Diversity of Fungi in Hospital Water |
| title_full_unstemmed | Broad Diversity of Fungi in Hospital Water |
| title_short | Broad Diversity of Fungi in Hospital Water |
| title_sort | broad diversity of fungi in hospital water |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/9358542 |
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