Research in Medicine

Background : Fungal respiratory infections are being recognized with increasing frequency in parallel with an expanding population of immunocompromised patients. In the present study 347 patients including 155 females and 192 males with suspected respiratory fungal infection were included.

Materials and methods : Bronchial alveolar lavage, bronchial brushing, and biopsies from chest wall, lungs and sinuses were studied. Diagnosis was made through direct fungal observation or culture.

Results : Of 347 suspected specimens, 127 including 79 males and 48 females revealed to be infected by clinical examination. Fungi were more commonly found (54.3%) in subjects with at least one predisposing factor for fungal infection. Isolated organisms were candida albicans, candida spp., aspergillus fumigatus, aspergillus flavus, aspergillus niger , aspergillus spp. fusarium spp. cladosporium bantianum, pseudallescheria boydii, and actinomyces spp.

Conclusion : Controlling environmental transmission of fungi can be an important adjunct in managing an outbreak of nosocomial mycoses. Air conditioning system should be microbiologically monitored especially during period of repair or malfunction. High-efficiency particulate air filters should be utilized, when possible, in hospital areas with granulocytopenic patients.