[Food-related fungal infection risk in agranulocytosis. Mycological control of 273 food items offered to patients hospitalized in sterile units].
In sterile hospital units filamentous fungal infections are an unacceptable risk in patients with prolonged agranulocytosis. The occurrence of 3 successive cases in the Sterile unit of University Hospital of Grenoble prompted us to investigate in all elements of sterile unit, and notably food-processing. Two cooked rice dishes given to these patients were found to contain a substantial amount of Aspergillus fumigatus and were probably responsible for these infections. A more detailed study was carried out to evaluate the degree of food contamination by fungi in sterile unit. The study included 97 cooked dishes which had been sterilized in a 250 degrees oven for 40 minutes and 176 industrially packed foods delivered in single packs (e.g. milk and its derivatives, sweets and drinks). Each foodstuff was mycologically examined 3 to 5 times in different packs according to a procedure used in food analysis laboratories and raised to the standards of mycological examination. In this way, a 3-monthly food testing protocol in sterile unit could be set up. This protocol has a dual purpose: regular checking of the cooked dishes chain and maximum diversification of the dishes.
Département de Parasitologie-Mycologie médicale et moléculaire, ERS CNRS 1344, CHU A. Michallon, Grenoble.
O
O
Vermorel-Faure
B
B
Lebeau
M R
MR
Mallaret
M
M
Michallet
A
A
Brut
P
P
Ambroise-Thomas
R
R
Grillot
D000380:Agranulocytosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D001230:Aspergillus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control; D005516:Food Microbiology; D005521:Food Service, Hospital / Q000592:standards; D005602:France; D006757:Hospital Units; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009181:Mycoses / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010407:Penicillium / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012307:Risk Factors
Risque fongique alimentaire au cours de l'agranulocytose. Contrôle mycologique de 273 aliments proposés à des malades hospitalisés en secteur stérile.