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Vol.39 No.2 contents | Japanese/English |
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Full Text of PDF (1,193K) Article in Japanese |
Fungus in the Hospital Environment
Masato TASHIRO1)2)
1)Department of Infectious Diseases, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 2)Infection Control and Education Center, Nagasaki University Hospital
The majority of black molds found in the environment belong to Cladosporium species and do not typically cause invasive fungal infections. However, Aspergillus species in hospital environments are a cause for concern as they can lead to invasive pulmonary aspergillosis with a high mortality rate. Aspergillus species produce asexual spores called conidia that are airborne, and immunocompromised patients may develop invasive pulmonary aspergillosis by inhalation. Units where patients with a high risk of developing invasive pulmonary aspergillosis are hospitalized include hematology/oncology, intensive care, and lung transplant units, and these locations require special attention regarding fungal contamination in hospitals. A significant decrease in the number of airborne fungi was observed through the use of high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters in an environmental survey conducted at Nagasaki University Hospital. In addition, the distribution of Aspergillus species in hospital environments showed a similar pattern between air and dust samples, suggesting that the distribution of Aspergillus species in the air could be indirectly examined by sampling dust. Aspergillus species commonly inhabit plants, soil, and dust, and to decrease the number of Aspergillus species in hospital environments, it is important to avoid placing potted plants in hospital units and maintain proper environmental cleaning to prevent the accumulation of dust. Furthermore, as the dispersal of dust can lead to the spread of Aspergillus species, preventive measures to minimize dust dispersal, such as dust control during construction or air filter replacement in units with a high risk of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, are necessary.
Key words：fungus, Aspergillus spp., dust
e-mail: mtashiro＠nagasaki-u.ac.jp
Received: December 6, 2023
Accepted: December 25, 2023
39 (2)：31─36,2024
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