title: [Aspergillus spp. in risk areas of transplant patients in a university hospital].
abstract: As a consequence of the increase in the number of immunocompromised patients, cases of aspergillosis, due to the opportunist character of this fungus, have increased considerably. Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus flavus, and Aspergillus niger have been found in air and water samples of the majority of investigated hospitals. The aim of the present study was to investigate the presence of aspergilli in transplant patients areas at the Hospital Universitario of Bogotá, Colombia. Samples of air were collected using the MAS-100 Air Sampler from each of the investigated areas. A sample of 100 ml of water was also recovered from these areas. All samples were taken for triplicate and were cultured in 2% Sabouraud Dextrose Agar. The average of aspergilli in air samples was 2.8 CFU/l corresponding to A. flavus, A. niger, Aspergillus versicolor and Aspergillus terreus. In water samples, the average was 17.1 CFU/l corresponding to A. flavus and Aspergillus clavatus. Because potentially pathogenic Aspergillus species were found in the hospital areas were transplant patients are usually kept, active surveillance and a high clinical suspicion should be considered in those patients. Since Aspergillus infections haven't been found so far, a higher fungal load and other host factors might be needed to facilitate the infection.
authors.affiliation: Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia. claudia.parra@javeriana.edu.co
authors.forename: María Ximena
authors.initials: MX
authors.lastname: Cárdenas
authors.forename: Jorge Alberto
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Cortes
authors.forename: Claudia Marcela
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Parra
mesh_terms: D000391:Air Microbiology; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis*; D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D001230:Aspergillus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003105:Colombia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control; D005521:Food Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006757:Hospital Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009873:Operating Rooms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010362:Patients' Rooms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D013503:Surgery Department, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014180:Transplantation; D014871:Water Microbiology; D014876:Water Pollution / Q000032:analysis*