Identifying the Fungal Health-Threatening Factors for Librarians and Users in Libraries of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Iran in 2011

Fungi are biological threatening which exist in all the environments. Libraries and archive centers are a suitable environment for the growth of fungi. The aim of this study was to identify fungal life-threatening factors for librarians and users in libraries of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Iran in 2011. This was a cross-sectional and descriptive-analytical study. The study population included libraries of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences in 2011. 126 samples were chosen in seven libraries at three different day times (morning, noon and evening), from the atmosphere, books and surfaces (desks, computers, book shelves etc.). Culture media (Sc) containing samples were placed at 25-30° C. After the growth of fungi, they were identified by macroscopic and microscopic criteria. A total of 2140 colonies belonging to 26 fungal genera were isolated from the seven libraries. The highest amounts of colonies (555) were isolated from the library of School of Dentistry and the lowest amounts (70) were isolated from the library of School of Management and Information Sciences. Cladosporium, Penicillium, Yeasts, Aspergillus Niger and Aspergillus had the highest prevalence and Aureobasidium Rhizopus, Scopulariopsis, Botrytis, Neurospora and Curvularia had the lowest prevalence. There was no significant correlation between the sampling times and fungal contamination. Cladosporium Penicillium, Aspergillus, and Aspergillus Niger, which had the highest prevalence rate, are the opportunistic pathogens that may cause infection for those prone to them.