Survey of opportunistic fungi in the clinical and environmental specimens obtained from Urmia educational hospitals

In this study we attempted to search important sources of Aspergillus spores and Candida elements in hospitals indoor spaces using two identification methods of morphology and molecular. From February 2008 to September 2009, total of 198 clinical and environmental specimens were collected from two Iranian training educational hospitals of Urmia. Clinical specimens included bronchoalveolar lavage, sputum, sinus discharge and urine. Also 111 environmental specimens including air samples and surface swabs were obtained from the rooms where our cases were hospitalized. All specimens were tested for Aspergillus and Candida species. The Identification of isolated fungi was confirmed using PCR-RFLP method. Totally 93 (47%) clinical specimens were positive for fungal or bacterial infections. 54 (58%) fungi isolated from clinical specimens included 36 (66.6%) Candida spp., 17(31.4%) Aspergillus spp and also only other one fungal saprophytic agent. Environmental isolates were included Candida spp., 35 (31.5%), Aspergillus spp., 48 (43.2%) and other saprophytic fungi, 28 (25.3%). Our findings of PCR-RFLP on rDNA gene of Candida and Aspergillus isolates showed a similarity between some environmental isolates and the relevant clinical isolates but use of method RAPD–PCR confirmed only 20-40% similarity with two of 5 random primers for some clinical isolates and related environments. We conclude that fungal contamination of the hospital indoor environments maybe important factor for the hospital acquired fungal infections.