ABSTRACT
Background \& objective: To determine the possible role of cockroaches as vector of medically important fungi, we isolate and identify pathogenic fungi from the external surface of cockroaches trapped at Thammasat Chalermprakiat Hospital.Methods: Cockroaches were trapped from cupboard and ward floor in patient room and staff resting room or working area at Thammasat Chalermprakiat Hospital. The washing fluid from external surface of cockroaches were cultured for identify filamentous fungi and yeast. Filamentous fungi were identified by macroscopic and microscopic examination. Yeast were identified by API 20C AUX system.Results: Forty five cockroaches were caught from Thammasat Chalermprakiat Hospital and showed contamination of medically importance fungi. Candida spp. was found more often in this study (75.6%). Penicillium spp. and Aspergillus spp. were appeared frequently on external surface of 16 (35.6%) and 11 (24.4%) cockroaches respectively. Other medically important fungi, Acremonium spp., Scopulariopsis spp., Cladosporium spp., Stachybotrys spp., Kloeckera spp., Geotrichum spp., Trichoderma spp., Fusarium spp., Kodamaea spp. and Verticillium spp. were rarely isolated on a few cockroaches.Conclusion: The data revealed medically important fungi were isolated form cockroaches in patient ward. This is remarkable results that contribute to cockroaches are a potential vector of medically important fungi and may cause of nosocomial fungal infection in hospital.