Indoor airborne fungal pollution in newborn units in Turkey.

Pathogenic and/or opportunistic fungal species are major causes of nosocomial infections, especially in controlled environments where immunocompromised patients are hospitalized. Indoor fungal contamination in hospital air is associated with a wide range of adverse health effects. Regular determination of fungal spore counts in controlled hospital environments may help reduce the risk of fungal infections. Because infants have inchoate immune systems, they are given immunocompromised patient status. The aim of the present study was to evaluate culturable airborne fungi in the air of hospital newborn units in the Thrace, Marmara, Aegean, and Central Anatolia regions of Turkey. A total of 108 air samples were collected seasonally from newborn units in July 2012, October 2012, January 2013, and April 2013 by using an air sampler and dichloran 18% glycerol agar (DG18) as isolation media. We obtained 2593 fungal colonies comprising 370 fungal isolates representing 109 species of 28 genera, which were identified through multi-loci gene sequencing. Penicillium, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Talaromyces, and Alternaria were the most abundant genera identified (35.14, 25.40, 17.57, 2.70, and 6.22% of the total, respectively).

Genotypic discrimination of Aspergillus fumigatus strain from related species within section fumigati.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: The aim was to make an exact diagnosis of 20 strains using molecular biological methods which were isolated from the atmosphere of the inpatient rooms in the Oncology and other departments of the Ege University Medical Faculty Hospital, and identified as Aspergillus fumigatus through phenotypic tests, and to determine their antibiotic susceptibility patterns. MATERIALS AND METHOD: It was confirmed that the 20 phenotypically-identified A. fumigatus strains belonged to the section Fumigati after they were tested by the ITS-PCR method. Their sequence analysis was performed and the results sent to the NCBI GenBank, and their accession numbers were obtained. For their exact diagnosis at the species level, the ß-tub (ß-tubulin) and rodA (RodletA) genes were examined with the multiplex PCR. Anti-fungal susceptibility of the 20 strains was determined according to the M38-A2 standards. RESULTS: As a result of ITS-PCR, it was confirmed that 19 of the 20 strains identified as A. fumigatus through the phenotypic methods belonged to the section Fumigati. However, after the detection of ß-tub and rodA genes, all 20 strains were identified as A. fumigatus. CONCLUSION: Although the results of the phenotypic and molecular biological tests applied to filamentous fungi do not often overlap, in this study, the results obtained from the molecular analysis confirmed the results of the phenotypic tests. However, 1 of the 20 strains phenotypically-identified as A. fumigatus was identified as Penicillium spp. as a result of ITS-PCR and sequence analysis. On the other hand, the profile obtained from ß-tub and rodA tests indicated that the strain was A. fumigatus. Based on these results, this strain is thought to belong to the Aspergilloides genus which has the features of both genera.

Determination and comparison of microbial loads in atmospheres of two hospitals in Izmir, Turkey.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Nosocomial infections, also known as hospital-acquired infections, has become one of the most important health problems in health care units worldwide. The presented study aims to determine the average amount of microorganism loads and to show that the atmospheres of the two hospitals can be a potential source regarding nosocomial infections. The effect of surface and floor disinfection processes in the two hospitals and the antibiotic susceptibility of the bacterial isolates were also evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Microorganisms were isolated from air samples collected from different areas (patient wards, corridors, operating theatres and postoperative units) of the two hospitals in Izmir. Sampling was conducted between December 2006 - March 2007. RESULTS: During the 3-month sampling period, the average number of live microorganisms in the air samples collected from second-class environments in the hospital 1 and the hospital 2 was found to be 224.44 and 536.66 cfu/m(3) , respectively. The average number of microorganisms in hospital 2 collected before the disinfection process was higher than those after the disinfection process. However, because of the closure of the air-conditioning system and the hepa filters after the disinfection process, this was reversed in hospital 1. In total, 54 and 42 isolates were obtained from hospital 1 and hospital 2, respectively. 49 isolates from hospital 1 and 35 isolates from hospital 2 were identified as Staphylacoccus sp. The remaining isolates were identified as Aerococcus sp. and Enterococcus sp. Pseudomonas sp. was not determined in the air samples of the two hospitals. CONCLUSIONS: It was detected that the microbial loads in the atmospheres of the two hospitals studied varied greatly depending on the number of people in the environment. As the results indicate, the total number of microorganisms in the atmospheres of operating theatres in both hospitals does not pose a threat according to the Air Microbe Index.

Determining Candida spp. incidence in denture wearers.

The aim of this study was to determine Candida spp. incidence in the oral cavity of denture wearers and characterize predisposing factors in denture-related stomatitis (DRS). Three groups of denture wearers and a control group were evaluated for DRS according to Newton's classification. The amount of yeast in saliva and the presence of yeast on mucosal surfaces were determined by phenotyping methods, and the impact of some risk factors on candidal carriage was evaluated. The development of DRS is most common in complete prosthesis users. When the count of yeast in saliva is >or=400 cfu/ml, the frequency of DRS is increased. In individuals who develop DRS, the most frequently encountered species that was identified as C. albicans. Prosthetic hygiene was related to the intensity of candidal growth and the development of DRS. C. albicans live as saprophyte in the oral cavity. But, it is capable of causing infection if there are predisposing conditions related to the host. Usage of removable prosthesis may cause these microorganisms to gain pathogenicity.

Determination of potential allergenic fungal flora and its clinical reflection in suburban elementary schools in Izmir.

In this research, in order to determine mean fungus counts, indoor and outdoor air samples were taken in five elementary school buildings located in the city center of Seferihisar, Izmir (45 km from Izmir) within a 1-year period between March and April 2004, and between January and February 2005 representing similar climatic characteristics. Five samples, three from three classes where 5-8, 10-12, and 12-15 age group students attended, one from the corridors, and one from outside the buildings in all the schools, were taken for each period. Within the period of the study, in indoor and outdoor air samples, 7,122 microfungus colonies were counted. Sixty-four species were identified that belong to 17 genera as a result of the identification of isolates obtained. Skin prick tests were applied to 55 out of a total of 117 teachers by the clinicians. According to these test results, 24 teachers were sensitive to at least one agent. Results revealed that, in terms of mold counts, the difference between the schools and the difference between the times (periods) were statistically significant (p < 0.05).