Study on fungal flora of tap water as a potential reservoir of fungi in hospitals in Sari city, Iran.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the fungal flora of tap water from university hospitals of Sari city, Iran.


METHODS
During a 1-year period, 240 water samples were collected from four university hospitals. All water samples were collected in sterile polystyrene bottles. A volume of 100ml of the samples passed through sterile 0.45-micrometer filters. The filters were placed directly on malt extract agar and incubated at 27°C for 3 to 7 days. Routine mycological techniques were applied to identification of grown fungi.


RESULTS
Out of 240 plates, 77.5% were positive for fungal growth. Twelve different genera were identified. Aspergillus (29.7%), Cladosporium (26.7%) and Penicillium (23.9%) were the most common isolated. Among Aspergillus species, A. flavus had the highest frequency. Highest colony counts were found in autumn. Aspergillus predominated in autumn, Cladosporium in winter and spring and Penicillium in summer.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of our study showed that hospital water should be considered as a potential reservoir of fungi particularly Aspergillus.
Department of Medical Mycology and Parasitology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Km 18 Khazarabad Road, P.O. Box: 48175-1665, Sari, Iran.
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MT
Hedayati
Department of Medical Mycology and Parasitology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Km 18 Khazarabad Road, P.O. Box: 48175-1665, Sari, Iran.
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S
Mayahi
Department of Environmental Health, School of Health, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
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M
Movahedi
Department of Medical Mycology and Parasitology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Km 18 Khazarabad Road, P.O. Box: 48175-1665, Sari, Iran.
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Shokohi