Fungal carriage of hospital trapped cockroaches: A prospective study

Cockroaches are considered parasite carriers, and their nocturnal habits and regular contact with various environments make them ideal carriers of diverse fungal species. The aim of this study was to isolate superficial fungi carried by cockroaches trapped at our health care institution. A total of 100 cockroaches were captured from 6 wards of the hospital and were investigated for the presence of fungi on their external surface by using SDA medium.In this survey, 78% of the sampled cockroaches were contaminated with 96 fungi of medical importance, and the fungal prevalence was linked to some hospital areas, such as nephroplogy-haemodialysis p = 0,013 OR = 1367 IC95% (1199–1558), which could be explained by the presence of dialysis devices in which cockroaches can hide.Correlations were found between cockroach fungal contamination and the following variables: kitchen p = 0,026, OR = 1,349, IC95% (1190–1530); toilets p = 0,011, OR = 2,813, IC95% (0,868–9112); and patient rooms p = 0,01, OR = 3,621, IC95% (1322–9920), probably due to cockroaches searching for food among waste, garbage, skin flakes, and hair.The main fungi isolated were Rhizopus sp (21,9%), Candida non candida (16,7%), Aspergillus niger (15,6%), and Lichtheimia sp (12,5%).These results suggest that cockroaches act as carriers of several medically important fungi and could be involved in their transfer to hospital settings. There is a need for better control of these insects, especially in kitchens, bathrooms, and patient rooms

Fungal contamination of medical masks among forensic healthcare workers in the COVID19 era

Background: Medical masks are widely used in health care settings to protect healthcare workers from respiratory infections, particularly in the context of the recent Covid-19 disease. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 52 used masks collected from 52 forensic healthcare practitioners was conducted to culture for fungal isolation and identification. A study of fungal contamination was conducted by making an impression of the mouth mask cut piece on Sabouraud agar for selective isolation; each health worker completed a questionnaire, which included age, sex, type of mask, and duration of mask use. Results: Twenty five of the 52 used masks tested positive for fungal contamination (48,08%). A total of 44% of the contaminated masks belong to health workers between the ages of 21–30 years. Surgical masks (80%), KN95 (8%), and N95 (4%) were the most contaminated protective devices. Usage duration of 1–2 h was associated with 4% of fungal contamination, while a usage duration of 5–6 h was associated with 36% of fungal contamination. Alternaria sp (32%), Penicillium sp (20%), Aspergillus sp (16%) were the most predominant isolated fungi discovered on the inside areas of the masks. Conclusion: Because fungi are known to cause allergies and serious adverse health effects following recommendations to properly wear a medical mask is critical to preventing fungal contamination, especially among health care workers who are wearing the same mask for a long period during the pandemic