Investigation of fungal bioaerosols in Shiraz composting facilities during 2017

Background: Fungi are one of the pollutant emissions from the composting plants which change in variety during the composting process. They are predominant in stabilization stage

Methods: This study assessed the thermotolerant airborne fungi based on NIOSH 0800 on 200 ambient samples from four composting processes and outdoor spaces in a composting plant

Results: The concentration of fungi during shredding, separating and screening was higher than 1000 CFU/m[3]. The level of fungi in all stages was higher than outdoor [P<0.001]. The highest concentration was detected in shredding [6749 +/- 1347 CFU/m[3]] [P=0.007], and the lowest concentration was related to screening [113 +/- 32 CFU/m[3]] [P=0.013]. The predominant species was varied during the stages. Yeast and A. niger were predominant species in shredding and separating

Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the concentration of airborne fungi was decreased during composting process. The effect of these aerosols on indoor air was more than that in the outdoor space and workers at this site were exposed to high levels of thermotolerant fungi. Therefore, air-condition, ventilation system and safety operations such as respiratory masks are essential. The results of this study can be used in risk assessment

Pneumocystis jirovecii colonization in non-HIV-infected patients based on nested-PCR detection in bronchoalveolar lavage samples

Pneumocystis jirovecii causes Pneumocystis pneumonia [PCP] in immunocompromised patients with a high rate of morbidity and mortality. Colonization with this fungus may stimulate pulmonary inflatnmation or lead to PCP in susceptible patients. The epidemiology of this infection and routs of its transmission has poorly studied in Iran. We examined Pnaumocystis colonization in patients with various lung underlying diseases. Bronchoalveolar lavage [BAL] fluids of 458 patients with different underlying diseases or pulmonary signs were collected between August 2010 and January 2012. Patients were divided into four groups: transplant recipients, malignant patients, immunosuppressive drug recipients and patients with other different lung diseases. A sensitive nested-PCR method targeted 18S ribosomal UNA gene was used for investigating P. jirovecii in the specimens. P. jirovecii DNA was detected in 57 out of 458 [12.5%] BAL samples by nested-PCR. Colonization rate in malignant patients, transplant recipients, immunosuppressive therapy recipients and patients with other various lung diseases was 21.7%, 20.3%, 12.7% and 7.3%, respectively. The enzyme BanI cuts all PCR products producing fragments with the size of 228 and 104 base pair. This finding as well as sequencing of four random positive samples validated and reconfirmed the PCR results. P. jirovecii cysts were found in 5 out of 57 PCR positive samples. A significant number of patients with pulmonary diseases were colonized by P. jirovecii that can develop to PCP in these patients or they may transmit the fungus to other susceptible patients