title: Fungal contamination of air conditioning units in operating theatres in India.
abstract: Postoperative fungal infections may be caused by discharge of spores from contaminated air conditioning (AC) units. The filters of such units may act as a nidus for the growth of fungi. In this survey, filters of AC units in 25 operating theatres in India were evaluated quarterly over two years. The overall rate of fungal colonization of the AC filters was 26%. In addition, window-mounted AC units had higher fungal counts than wall-mounted AC units. We conclude that although the exact load of fungal spores necessary to initiate infections is unknown, AC units in operating theatres should be meticulously maintained and frequently monitored to minimize the chances of growth and proliferation of potentially pathogenic fungi. Data from this study also suggest that the design of the AC unit may play an important role in reducing fungal spore counts in the air of operating theatres in developing countries.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Microbiological Surveillance, Microtech Diagnostics and Consultants, A-9 Patel Avenue, Bhusari Colony, Pune 411038, Maharashtra, India. udakelkar@vsnl.net
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kelkar
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Bal
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kulkarni
mesh_terms: D000389:Air Conditioning / Q000295:instrumentation*; D000391:Air Microbiology; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis*; D002980:Climate; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003906:Developing Countries; D004203:Disinfection; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005374:Filtration / Q000295:instrumentation; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods; D008283:Maintenance; D009181:Mycoses / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D009873:Operating Rooms; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015995:Prevalence; D012621:Seasons; D013172:Spores, Fungal