The seasonal distribution of airborne fungi in two hospitals in Istanbul

Abstract

Changes in fungal concentrations depend on seasonal and environmental conditions. The aim of this study was to determine the seasonal distributions of the fungal flora in Dr. Siyami Ersek Chest, Heart and Vascular Center Education and Research Hospital (SEH) and Kartal Yavuz Selim State Hospital (KYSH) in İstanbul. Samples were collected seasonally from different stations (microbiology laboratory, toilet, patient waiting saloons, hospital garden and library) in these hospitals. Distributional patterns of the isolated micro fungi were evaluated for each season. In SEH, the highest number of the fungi was isolated in summer, followed by autumn, spring and winter, respectively. Among the 257 micro fungi isolated from this hospital, the most common species were Alternaria alternata (25.8%), Cladosporium cladosporioides (21.9%), Penicillium glabrum (12.9%), Penicillium brevicompactum (7.4%) and Cladosporium herbarum (3.9%). In KYSH, the highest number of fungi was isolated in summer followed by autumn, spring and winter, respectively. Among the 221 micro fungi isolated from this hospital, the most common species were Cladosporium cladosporioides (19.5%), Alternaria alternata (15.8%), Cladosporium herbarum (11.3%) and Penicillium brevicompactum (9.0%).

Keywords: Istanbul, airborne fungi, hospital flora, seasonal flora