Fungal Respiratory Infections among Hospitalized Patients: A Self-assessment Study

Background and purpose: Fungal agents in the form of hospital infections are one of the most important causes of death in hospitalized patients. Since the colonization of these microorganisms in the respiratory system can be an important source of infection, this study aims to evaluate the frequency of fungal respiratory infections and Bacteriological analysis was carried out while examining the demographic characteristics and laboratory factors effective in the prognosis of hospitalized patients.Materials and methods: This study was performed on ۶۲ isolates from a total of ۲۱۲ hospitalized patients' respiratory samples in Golestan province during one year. Samples were examined for presence of fungal isolates using clinical microbiology procedures based upon fluorescence microscopic morphology, cultural and PCR methods. Demographic data including age, gender, date of hospitalization, underlying diseases, date of death and laboratory data were collected.Results: Out of sixty-two positive cultures, ۴۳ samples (۶۹.۳۵%) were male with higher than forty years old and (۳۵cases, ۵۶.۴۵) had kidney diseases. The most common fungal isolates were Candida albicans (۳۰.۶۵%), Aspergillus fumigatus (۲۹.۰۳%), Aspergillus niger (۲۴.۱۹%), Aspergillus flavus (۸.۰۶%), Actinomyces (۴.۸۴%) and Fusarium (۳.۲۲%) respectively. The results also showed that the level of complement component ۳ was significantly associated with the incidence of respiratory fungal or bacterial infections (p<۰.۰۵).Conclusions: The rate of respiratory fungal infection in hospitalized patients was high. It is essential to implement control measures such as managing the length of hospital stay and controlling fungal spores with proper ventilation and strong filters in preventing hospital infections.

کلیدواژه ها:

Fungi ، Respiratory tract ، Nosocomial Infection