FUNGAL CONTAMINATIONS OF EQUIPMENT IN ANAESTHESIA ROOMS, AHVAZ, IRAN

Bio‐aerosols including, fungal spores are usually distributed at indoor and outdoor. Inhalation and/or contact to fungal spores could be cause several severe and fatal nosocomial infections among predisposed patients. Aspergillus, Penicillium, Cladosporium, Alternaria, and different species of yeasts are the main airborne fungi. The aim of present study was to determine fungal contaminations of equipment in anaesthesia rooms Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran. 94 samples from the different part of laryngoscope blade, facial mask, connections, anaesthesia desks and expiratory valves of anaesthetic machines through swab and spread on the Sabouraud dextrose agar medium. Cultured media were incubated at 25-for 1-2 weeks and all growth fungi were isolated and identified. In all sampled sites the growth of saprophytic fungi was observed with exception of anaesthetic drug. The most common contaminant was Cladosporium species that isolated from 46% samples. Indoor air quality in equipment in anaesthesia rooms could be an important factor for infections. The results showed that the fungal contaminations of some instruments in critical rooms in hospital should be considered as a risk factor for patients and other workers.

Anaesthesia Room, Anaesthesia Instrument, Fungal Contamination.