Occurrence of fungi in dialysis water system and dialysis solution in dialysis centers in Ahvaz, Iran

The aims of the present study were to examine the water and dialysate for determining the diversity, occurrence, and distribution of fungi in hemodialysis centers of Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences. One hundred and sixty eight water samples from dialysis machines, and dialysis solution were collected. The samples were cultured on Sabouraud's dextrose agar and incubated at room temperature. Our study demonstrated that various fungi were present in the water system in haemodialysis centers. Totally, eight genera of filamentous fungi and three genera of yeasts and yeast-likes were identified. The most common filamentous fungi were Fusarium, Peniditium and Aspergittlus, whereas, Candida tropicalis was the most frequently isolated yeast. The water supply for hemodialysis units could be contaminated with several fungal species that occur during piping into kidney machine. In addition, contamination with fungi due to contact with plastic materials in kidney machine pipes is more considerable. For minimizing the exposure of patients suffering from chronic renal insufficiency to contaminated water sources, water distribution systems should also be monitored for mycological contamination. In addition dialysate solutions should also be kept for preventing fungal contaminations

vitro antifungal activity of Satureja Khuzestanica Jamzad against Cryptococcus neoformans

Finding the antifungal activity of Satureja Khuzestanica Jamzad extract against Cryptococcus neoformans isolates. The dilution in agar method was used to test the plant extracts against C. neoformans. The minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC] was described as the lowest concentration capable to inhibit any visible fungal growth. All nine C. neoformans strains used in this study were environmental isolates. The MIC value of Satureja Khuzestanica against C. neoformans isolates observed in this study demonstrated that the extract of this plant have antifungal activity. The MIC of extract of Satureja Khuzestanica ranged from 62.5-2000 microg/ml-1. The extract of this plant at concentration of 500 microg/ml-1 inhibited 78% of C. neoformans isolates. This study demonstrated that the extract of Satureja Khuzestanica has anticrptococcal activity. Our work open viewpoints of find more efficient medicines of herbal origin in the treatment of fungal mycoses

prevalence of superficial fungal infections in the elderly

The main goals of this study were to determine the distribution and frequency of dermatologic diseases in geriatric patients according to age and gender, and the place of residence. A total of 349 patients aged 65 years and over lived in elderly care centers and geriatric patients in Ahvaz Jundishapur University Hospitals were studied in winter of 2008. Specimens were collected from clinically suspected fungal infections of various body sites including toenail, fingernail, body and groin, head and scalp, face, hand, and foot. The distribution of the patients in the different age groups was as follows: 16 patients in the 65-74 year age group [11 female [69%] and 5 male [31%]]; 11 patients in the 75-84 year age group [7 female [58%] and 5 male [42%]]; and 3 patients in the>85 year age group [1 female [33%] and 2 male [67%]]. Overall, the 3 most frequent diseases in this cohort of patients were erythrasma [16 patients [53.3%]], onychomycosis [10 patients [33.3%]] and skin yeast infections [4 patients [13.4%]]. In this study Corynebacterium minutissimum was the most frequent agent of infections [53.3%] followed by filamentous fungi [23.3%], C. albicans, Candida sp. and yeasts [6.7% each]. Only one dermatophyte [T. verrucosum] was isolated [3.3%]

In vitro interactions of miconazole with sulfametoxazole against candida species

Finding the synergism effect of miconazole and sutfametoxazole on 4 species of candida. Interactions of miconazole in combination with sulfametoxazote were tested in buffered yeast-nitrogen base using checkerboard method. Plates were inoculated with 20 micro l cells suspensions of each yeast and incubated at 30°C for 24 hour. In this method, the MICs were described as the lowest antimicrobial concentration inhibiting visible fungal growth on the plates. Minimal fungicidal concentration [MFC] was described as the first tube showing no growth on the plate. The MIC of miconazole was 11.3O micro g/ml for Candida albicans. 8.9 micro g/ml for Candida tropicalis 8.6 micro g/ml for Candida papapsilosis and 5.2 micro g/ml for Candida krusei. When miconazole were combined with sulfametoxazole, miconazole MICs decreased to 1.54 micro g/ml for C. albicans, O.5 micro g/ml for C. tropicalis, O.383 micro g/ml for C. parapsilosis and O.275 micro g/ml for C. krusei. The data show that combination of miconazole and sulfametoxazole was synergistic on C. albicans, C. tropicalis, C. parapsilosis and C. krusei

Isolation of dermatophytes and related keratinophilic fungi from the two public parks in Ahvaz

Fungi found in soil and the variation and prevalence in each area depends on environmental and nutritional conditions. Considering the importance of soil in transmission of diseases, this study aims at assessing the frequency of dermatophytes and related keratinophilic fungi, potentially pathogenic fungi in various samples collected from two public parks in Ahvaz, SW Iran. Five hundred samples were collected from different parts of the Zoo and Laleh parks in Ahvaz. The fungal flora was analyzed in different samples for the presence of dermatophytes and keratinophilic fungi by hair baiting technique. Specimens were contained soil, carpet pad technique from the walls of the cages, and animals' residues. The samples were cultured on Sabouraud's dextrose agar, containing chloramphenicol and cyclohexamide, and incubated at 25-27°C for 4-5 weeks aerobically. Isolates were identified by colony morphology, slide cultures, and differentiation tests. Most of the isolated dermatophytcs were collected from the soil of the Zoo park. The most common keratinophilic fungus was Chrysosporium [5]. Other species were Trichophyton mentagrophytes [3], T. verrucosum [2], T. schoenleinii [1] and M. gypseum [1]. The results demonstrated that dermatophytes and related keratinophilic fungi of Ahvaz is somewhat different from that in other parts of Iran. This may be due to the different climatic conditions prevailing. Considering, the fact that most of the potential pathogenic fungi were isolated from the Zoo park, where there are wilds and domestic animals

Isolation Of fungi from housefly [Musca Domestica] in Ahwaz, Iran

The objective of this study was isolation of fungi on external surface of houseflies collected from Ahwaz, Iran. The fungal spores of the external surface of 275 house-flies [Musca domestica] were collected from Ahwaz, Iran. The flies were captured and rinsed in a solution of 1% sodium hypochlorite for three minutes and twice in sterile distilled water for 1min. The group of ten flies was transferred to a 0.85% saline solution. 0.1ml of this solution was transferred to Sabouraud's dextrose agar [SDA]. The plates were kept at room temperature to allow appearance of the fungal colonies. In this study 1295 fungal colonies were identified. The main fungi isolated were species of Aspergillus, Penicillium, Yeasts, Cladosporium and Fusarium. Also, 2 dermatophytes were recovered including Microsporum gypseum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes. Our study demonstrated that house-fly is a carrier for fungal spores

In vitro activities of amphotericin-B in combination with rifampin against aspergillus species

The main goal of study was finding the synergism effect of amphotricin B [AMB] and rifampin [RIF] on 3 species of Aspergillus. Activities of amphotericin B in combination with rifampin were tested in buffered yeast-nitrogen base using checkerboard method. Plates were inoculated with 20 micro l spores suspensions of each organism and incubated at 30°C for 24h. For this method, the MICs were defined as the lowest antimicrobial concentration inhibiting visible fungal growth on the plates. Minimal fungicidal concentration was defined as the first tube showing no growth on the plate. The MIC of amphotericin B for 100% of isolates of A. fumigatus and A. flavus were inhibited by 4mg/lit amphotericin B. 100% of isolates of A. niger were inhibited by 8mg/lit amphotericin B. When amphotericin B was combined with rifampin, amphotericin B MICs decreased to 2, 1 and 4mg/lit in A. fumigatus, A. flavus rephrase and A. niger respectively. The results indicate that combination of amphotreicin B and rifampin was synergistic on A. fumigatus, A. flavus and A. niger

In vitro synergism between miconazole and griseofulvin against candida species

To find the synergistic effect between miconazole and griseofulvin on common human Candida. A serial dilution of miconazole and griseofulvin in Yeast Nitrogen Base [YNB] was prepared in test tubes. 5011 of standardized suspension of yeasts was inoculated into each test tube and incubated at 30°C for 24-48 hours. The antifungal activity of miconazole alone or with griseofulvin was measured in vitro against 300 isolates of the Candida. Miconazole and griseofulvin in combination showed a Minimum inhibitory Concentration [MIC] of 6.7mg/l miconazole [M] and 20mg/l griseofulvin [G] for C. albicans, 13mg/I M and 20mg/I G for C. tropicalis, 4.9mg/I M and 20mg/I G for C. pseudotropicalis and 14.2mg/I M and 20mg/I G for C. parapsilosis. The combination of miconazole with griseofulvin resulted in synergistic activity [Fractional Inhibitory Concentration, FIC <0.82] against C. albicans in a microdilution checkerboard assay. FICs for other species were as follow: FIC <0.75 for C. tropicalis, FIC <0.86 for C. pseudotropicalis and FIC <0.79 for C. parapsilosis. These results suggest that combination of griseofulvin and miconazole regimens may reduce usual dosage of miconazole and it is helpful in the control of infections caused by Candida species