[Isolation of filamentous fungi from water used in a hemodialysis unit].
Despite the relative frequency of opportunistic fungal infections among hemodialysis patients, the reservoirs for these microorganisms in the environment remain unknown, although some recent studies have made correlations with the water supply as their source. The objective of the present study was to monitor the mycological quality of the water system of a hemodialysis unit in the interior of the State of São Paulo, Brazil, over the period from April to July 2006. Fifteen samples of 1000 ml were collected from seven water distribution points using the membrane filtration technique (0.45 microm). A total of 116 filamentous fungus specimens were isolated, including 47 Trichoderma sp (40.5%), 29 Cladosporium sp (25%), 16 Aspergillus sp (13.8%) and 11 Fusarium sp (9.5%). The results suggest that the water supply for hemodialysis units should also be monitored for mycological contamination, and that effective prophylactic measures should be adopted for minimizing the exposure of these immunodeficient patients to contaminated water sources in the environment.
Varo
Samuel Dutra
SD
Laboratório de Pesquisa em Microbiologia Aplicada, Universidade de Franca, Franca, SP.
Martins
Carlos Henrique Gomes
CH
Cardoso
Miguel Jorge de Oliveira
MJ
Sartori
Flávio Garcia
FG
Montanari
Lílian Bueno
LB
Pires-Gonçalves
Regina Helena
RH
D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D005658:Fungi / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015312:Hemodialysis Solutions / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D014871:Water Microbiology; D014881:Water Supply
D015312:Hemodialysis Solutions