title: The presence of fungi on contact electrical stimulation electrodes and ultrasound transducers in physiotherapy clinics.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the presence of fungi on contact electrodes and ultrasound transducers from physiotherapy clinics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Quantitative study conducted at the Laboratory of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology of Piauí - NOVAFAPI, Teresina, Brazil.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sample collection was performed in 10 clinics (20 ultrasound transducers and 20 contact electrodes).
  
  
  METHODS
  Swabs were soaked with saline solution, inoculated in culture and incubated for filamentous fungi and yeast growth.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fourteen taxons were identified: Acremomium hyalinulum (Sacc.), Aspergillus terreus, Candida albicans, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Cladosporium elatum, Cladosporium oxysporum, Cladosporium sphaerospermum, Cladosphialophora bantiana, Curvularia clavata, Curvularia senegalensis, Fusarium oxysporum, Penicillium decumbens, Scopulariopsis candida and Sporothrix schenckii. Aspergillus terreus, Cladosporium oxysporum, Sporothrix shenckii and Candida albicans were found most often on contact electrodes, and Penicillium decumbens and Cladosporium cladosporioides were found most often on ultrasound transducers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fungi were found on all of the contact electrodes and ultrasound transducers. Physiotherapy professionals need to improve the disinfection procedures for this equipment.
authors: Ciências Humanas e Tecnológicas do Piauí - NOVAFAPI, Teresina-PI, Brazil. mitramobin@novafapi.com.br
authors: Mitra
authors: M
authors: Mobin
authors: Cintia
authors: C
authors: de Moraes Borba
authors: Oséas F
authors: OF
authors: de Moura Filho
authors: Antonio Quaresma
authors: AQ
authors: de Melo Neto
authors: Vitor E
authors: VE
authors: Valenti
authors: Luiz Carlos Marques
authors: LC
authors: Vanderlei
authors: Luiz Carlos
authors: LC
authors: de Abreu
mesh_terms: D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D001938:Brazil; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004566:Electrodes / Q000382:microbiology; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D005658:Fungi / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D014159:Transducers / Q000382:microbiology; D014464:Ultrasonic Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation*