Incidence of Candida in Air from the Hospital Environment

Background: Candida is one of the most frequently encountered opportunistic fungi that cause severe infection in humans. Environments of hospitals are of particular concern, contain different types of microorganisms, thus patients may serve as a source of pathogenic microbes to other patients, staff, and visitors. Incidence of candidiasis is increasing worldwide. The aim of the study was to investigate incidence of Candida in air and surface swabs from the hospital units. Materials and Methods: The samples were collected through a passive sedimentation method on to Sabouraud's glucose agar containing chloramphenicol and incubated at 37˚C for 7 days. Speciation of Candida was done by standard yeast identification protocol and Hichrom Candida agar as per standard procedures. Results: Total 290 exposed plates were collected from various wards of MGM Hospital Kamothe, Navi Mumbai. Incidence of Candida isolation from hospital air (exposed plates) is 8.5%. Exposed plates from different units showed 15% isolation rate of Candida in Chest tuberculosis (CTB) and Medicine, 10% in Obstetrics and Gynaecology (OBGY), Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT), Orthopaedics, ophthalmology Urology and Microbiology laboratory, 5% in Orthopedics, Cardiovascular and Thoracic surgery (CVTS) and Paediatrics. Distribution of Candida species shows C. albicans (56.5%), C. tropicalis (26.1%) and C. glabrata (17.4%). Conclusion: This study demonstrated that there were different fungal species present in the hospital environments. Candida albicans followed by Aspergillus spp. were the most predominant yeast and mould species isolated, respectively. Considering the presence of pathogenic microorganisms, environmental monitoring is necessary to prevent possible hospital infections.