title: [Aspergillus species in hospital environments with pediatric patients in critical condition].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Aspergillus is a group of opportunistic fungi that cause infections, with high morbimortality in immunosuppressed patients. Aspergillus fumigatus is the most frequent species in these infections, although the incidence of other species has increased in the last few years.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the air fungal load and the diversity of Aspergillus species in hospitals with pediatric patients in critical condition.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Intensive Care Unit and Burns Unit of a pediatric hospital were sampled every 15 days during the autumn and spring seasons. The air samples were collected with SAS Super 100(®) and the surface samples were collected by swab method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The UFC/m(3) counts found exceeded the acceptable levels. The UFC/m(3) and the diversity of Aspergillus species found in the Intensive Care Unit were higher than those found in the Burns Unit. The fungal load and the diversity of species within the units were higher than those in control environments. The use of both methods -SAS and swab- allowed the detection of a higher diversity of species, with 96 strains of Aspergillus being isolated and 12 species identified. The outstanding findings were Aspergillus sydowii, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus terreus and Aspergillus parasiticus, due to their high frequency. Aspergillus fumigatus, considered unacceptable in indoor environments, was isolated in both units.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Aspergillus was present with high frequency in these units. Several species are of interest in public health for being potential pathogenic agents. Air control and monitoring are essential in the prevention of these infections.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Micología, Instituto de Medicina Regional, Universidad Nacional del Nordeste, Resistencia, Argentina. Electronic address: mariana_f19@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Micología, Instituto de Medicina Regional, Universidad Nacional del Nordeste, Resistencia, Argentina.
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cattana
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Micología, Instituto de Medicina Regional, Universidad Nacional del Nordeste, Resistencia, Argentina.
authors.forename: Florencia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rojas
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Micología, Instituto de Medicina Regional, Universidad Nacional del Nordeste, Resistencia, Argentina.
authors.forename: María de Los Ángeles
authors.initials: Mde L
authors.lastname: Sosa
authors.affiliation: Hospital Pediátrico Juan Pablo II, Corrientes, Argentina.
authors.forename: Clarisa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aguirre
authors.affiliation: Hospital Pediátrico Juan Pablo II, Corrientes, Argentina.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vergara
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Micología, Instituto de Medicina Regional, Universidad Nacional del Nordeste, Resistencia, Argentina.
authors.forename: Gustavo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giusiano
mesh_terms: D000391:Air Microbiology; D001230:Aspergillus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002648:Child; D016638:Critical Illness; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D006757:Hospital Units; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D012621:Seasons
keywords: Ambiente hospitalario; Aspergillus; Environmental monitoring; Hospital environment; Muestreo ambiental; Surveillance; Vigilancia