Distribution of Aspergillus Species and Prevalence of Azole Resistance in Respiratory Samples From Swiss Tertiary Care Hospitals

Among 400 Aspergillus species from respiratory samples in Switzerland, Aspergillus fumigatus was the most frequent species. Non-fumigatus Aspergillus spp were more prevalent among solid organ transplant recipients and after azole exposure. Azole resistance was detected in 4 A fumigatus isolates, 3 of them with the "environmental" mutation TR$_{34}$/L98H in the cyp51A gene

The influence of sublethal concentrations of sulfur dioxide on morphology, growth and product yield of the duckweed Lemna minor L.

There was no disturbance in the growth of Lemna minor L. with a SO2 concentration of up to 0.3 ppm in air. A SO2 concentration of 0.6 ppm caused an initial depression of the growth rate of about 25%, but in the course of adaptation, the rate rose to the values of the control. The average dry weight per frond was not influenced by the SO2 fumigation. The initial sporadic appearance of chloroses by fumigation with 0.6 ppm SO2 was considered a sign of the proximate toxicity limit for Lemna minor L. With 0.15 ppm SO2 in air, the size of the fronds was reduced. The average surface of the fronds was diminished by 0.3 ppm SO2 for about 16% as compared with the control plants. The protein remained quantitatively uneffected up to a SO2 concentration of 0.6 ppm. As a qualitative influence of SO2, the nitrogen content of the proteins remained constant, but the sulfur content of the proteins increased. Under 0.3 and 0.6 ppm SO2, the starch content decreased immediately by 20–30%, under 0.15 ppm SO2 the decrease reached the same level after a longer time than in the case of the higher concentrations

Non-Seasonal Variation of Airborne Aspergillus Spore Concentration in a Hospital Building

Nosocomial fungal infections are gaining increased attention from infectiologists. An adequate investigation into the levels of airborne Aspergillus and other fungal spores in hospital settings, under normal conditions, is largely unknown. We monitored airborne spore contamination in a Swiss hospital building in order to establish a seasonally-dependent base-line level. Air was sampled using an impaction technique, twice weekly, at six different locations over one year. Specimens were seeded in duplicate on Sabouraud agar plates. Grown colonies were identified to genus levels. The airborne Aspergillus spore concentration was constantly low throughout the whole year, at a median level of 2 spores/m3 (inter-quartile range = IQR 1–4), and displayed no seasonal dependency. The median concentration of other fungal spores was higher and showed a distinct seasonal variability with the ambient temperature change during the different seasons: 82 spores/m3 (IQR 26–126) in summer and 9 spores/m3 (IQR 6–15) in winter. The spore concentration varied considerably between the six sampling sites in the building (10 to 26 spores/m3). This variability may explain the variability of study results in the literature