Dermatophytes and other pathogenic fungi from hospital staff apparel in Enugu, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: It has been established that hospital staff apparel contributed to the spread
of fungi infections in susceptible individuals (host). Objective: To isolate and identify
fungi associated with hospital staff apparel. Methods: A total of 110 randomly selected
hospital staff apparel from protective gown, face- shields and hand gloves were tested
for the presence of fungi. Examined samples were collected using the swab culture
method. Results: Of a total of 110 swab samples of hospital staff apparel, 56 (51 %)
showed fungi contamination including 31 (66 %) of 47 samples from protective gowns,
18 of 40 (45 %) samples from Hand gloves and 7 of 23 (30 %) samples from faceshields.
Eight (8) different genera of fungi were recovered. They included Penicillium
sp, Aspergillus fumigatus, Fusarium sp, Alternaria alternata, Rhizopus stolonifer,
Microsporum audouinii, Microsporum canis, Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton
mentagrophytes and Candida albicans. Penicillium sp was the most predominant specie isolated. Conclusion: The isolation of clinically important fungi from the apparel
suggests poor sanitary status and therefore the need for the existence of a health manual
guide, which all staff should be obligated to follow, is necessary to improved infection
control measures.

Keywords: Contamination, fungi, hospital apparel.

Sudanese Journal of Dermatology Vol. 4 (2) 2006: pp. 68-73