Clinical and Environmental Fungi Associated with Hospitalized Immunocompromised HIV-TB Coinfected Patients in Abeokuta, Nigeria
[1]
Shittu Olufunke Bolatito, Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria.
[2]
Adelaja Oluwabunmi Molade, Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria.
[3]
Obuotor Tolulope Mobolaji, Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria.
[4]
Sam-Wobo Sam Olufemi, Department of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria.
Background: Studies on clinical and environmental opportunistic fungi associated with hospitalized immuno-compromised patients especially, HIV-TB co-infection and adequate fungal disinfection evaluation in a resource limited setting like Nigeria are scarce. This study investigated diversity and prevalence of fungi associated with hospitalized HIV-TB coinfected patients as well as evaluating antifungal effectiveness of five (5) commonly used disinfectants. Study site: The study was conducted at a semi-private hospital in Abeokuta, Nigeria after obtaining ethical clearance from the Hospital Ethical Committee. Patients included in the study were those that were on admission for HIV-TB co-infections. Sample Collection: Samples of water were collected from the taps, storage tanks of the hospital. Different bottled and sachet water sold within and around the hospital premises to which the patients were sampled too. Open air samples were collected from different locations in the hospital wards by exposing petridishes containing potato dextrose agar (PDA) for 2 h. Sputum samples from hospitalized HIV-TB patients were collected into sterile universal bottles and stored in the refrigerator prior to culture. Isolation of fungi: Environmental fungi were isolated from water using membrane filter technique, and from air using the open-air culture method. Sputum samples from hospitalized HIV-TB patients were also cultured for isolation of clinical fungi. Disinfectant sensitivity test: Isolates were identified morphologically and representatives were subjected to disinfectant sensitivity test using agar well diffusion method. Results: Clinical and environmental fungi identified were Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus niger, Rhizopus spp, Mucor spp, Aspergillus flavus and Candida albicans. Aspergillus flavus and A. fumigatus were consistently isolated from both clinical and environmental samples but A. fumigatus had the highest prevalence: sputum (68.8%), tap water (72.7%), and storage water (49.3%), bottled water (56.3%), sachet water (45%) and open-air (18%). Purit® and Savlon® showed appreciable antifungal activity against representative isolates and control strain (A. fumigatus ATCC 120 CI) while Dettol®, Z-germicide® and Jik® ranged between very low and average activity. Disinfectants containing chlorhexidine (Purit® and Savlon®) were more effective in inhibiting the fungi that were examined in this study. Conclusion: For effective decontamination, precision and accuracy must be employed in usage and dilution of disinfectants. There is also a need for regular and periodic examination of disinfectants that are regularly used in hospital environment.
Fungi, Water, Disinfectant, Immuno-Compromised Patient, Clinical and Environmental, HIV-TB
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