Exposure to Fungi in Health Care Facilities

Sabino, Raquel

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.18/7710

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Authors

Sabino, Raquel

Abstract(s)

The number of nosocomial fungal infections is increasing due to several factors, but especially due to the higher number of immunocompromised patients, advances in medicine such as the increasing number of invasive procedures and treatments and longer stays within health care facilities. Air and surfaces of those facilities, health-care workers’ hands, and contaminated medical products are some of the main sources of fungi and associated with nosocomial infection. Aspergillus and Candida species are responsible for the majority of the cases of nosocomial fungal infections in immunocompromised patients. However, other fungi have emerged, namely Fusarium species, Pseudallescheria boydii, species belonging to the subphylum Mucormicotina, and yeasts like Malassezia or Saccharomyces. Some of these emerging pathogens are, in some cases, resistant to the available antifungals, potentiating the threat of novel fungal diseases. In this chapter, some of these etiological agents, associated infections, transmission routes and potential sources of infection in health care facilities will be discussed. In addition, collection procedures and new methods of laboratory analysis will also be mentioned.

Keywords

Fungal Infections Hospital Environment Candida Aspergillus Mucorales Nosocomial Infections Molecular Detection and Identification Environmental Contamination Antifungal Resistances Fungal Transmission Fungi Fusarium Health Facilities Hospital Air Hospital Surfaces Molecular Detection And Identification Mucorales Mycobiome Nosocomial Infections Infecções Sistémicas e Zoonoses