Airborne microfungi in Oncology Service of Medical School Hospital of Trakya University

Abstract

This study was performed in six different stations – drug preparation, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and three different patient rooms – in Oncology Service of Trakya University Medical Hospital in Edirne. Indoor air samples of equal volumes of 100 L were taken twice a month during the six-month study period. The analysis of samples showed that 8540 microfungi colonies were present in a total of 7.2 m3 air sample. November and April were found to be the months during which the highest numbers of fungal spores were isolated with 2570 CFU/m3 and 2060 CFU/m3, respectively, while the lowest spore counts were isolated during January (730 CFU/m3). Penicillium was found to be the most commonly isolated fungal genus with 2950 CFU/m3/spore followed by Cladosporium with 2110 CFU/m3. The other fungal genera isolated during the study are Aspergillus (640 CFU/m3), Alternaria (200 CFU/m3), Trichoderma (70 CFU/m3) and Rhizopus (40 CFU/m3). Among the most frequently isolated fungal species, Penicillium brevicompactum was the most common species with 960 CFU/m3 followed by Cladosporium cladosporioides with 930 CFU/m3. Aspergillus fumigatus, the fungal species of paramount importance in terms of human health, was also reported with a 410 CFU/m3. Statistical analyses were performed in order to reveal the relationship between microfungal colony numbers isolated and station temperature and relative humidity.