Showing 3 results for Aspergillus
Diba K, Mousavi B, Mahmoudi M, Hashemi J,
Volume 68, Issue 2 (5-2010)
Abstract
Background: Several studies have shown that propolis has antibacterial, antifungal,antiviral and antiparasitic activity. Furthermore propolis has been described to have medicinal usages in some fungal infections like Candidiasis. Our aim is to study the inhibitory effects of alcoholic extract of propolis on Candida spp. and Aspergillus spp.Methods: To determine inhibitory and fatality dose of propolis extract, we prepared serial dilution of the extract including 1/20, 1/40, 1/80, 1/160, 1/320 and 1/640 in 1 ml of liquid medium sabouraud broth. Given numbers of Candida yeasts in 1ml were added to above dilution tubes. Candida and Aspergillus cultures were incubated at 30°C and 25°C respectively for 24-72 hours.Results: We obseved that the concentration of 0.25 g/dl of propolis extract showed an
inhibitory and killing effect on more than 50% of the isolates. But there were no inhibitory and killing by the concentrations 0.0312 g/dl and 0.0625 g/dl on Candida
isolates. Our findings showed that 0.0312 g/dl of the extract was partially active on Aspergillus fumigatus and dilution of 0.125 g/dl was active on Aspergillus. niger. In the agar dilution method, some changes were observed on morphological features (depends on the extract dilution) as well as quantitative effects of dilution of extract on the colonies.Conclusion: We found that the alcoholic extract of propolis had a prominent antifungal activity and inhibitory effect on Candida and Aspergillus isolates.
Hashemi Sj, Zaini F, Daie R, Zibafar E, Zakeri Ma,
Volume 69, Issue 2 (5-2011)
Abstract
Background: Different studies have shown that despite the expanding number of antifungal agents, death rate caused by Aspergillus species has been increased during the recent decades due to drug-resistance occurrence, increased minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and cross-resistance among the isolated species. Regarding the lack of effective response to conventional treatments and antifungal susceptibility patterns of the most common isolated Aspergillus species, this study was undertaken to draw a clearer picture in the Iranian setting.
Methods: During 13 months from September 2009 to October 2010, 50 clinically isolated Aspergillus cases were identified based on the method described by Klich (2002) and their morphological features. Subsequently, their susceptibility test was carried out according to NCCLS- M38A broth microdilution method.
Results: We found that 7.5% of the isolated A. flavus with an MIC>2 µg/ml to amphotericin B were probably clinically resistant types, and 25% of them with an
MIC<8 µg/ml to itraconazole were less sensitive isolated species. The isolates were less
sensitive to voriconazole too. The MIC range of 9 strains of A. niger and the MIC of one strain of A. fumigatus had increased to all the three medications in comparison with similar foreign studies.
Conclusion: In this study we found that the MICs of most isolates were in the range of the reference strains and the MICs of some isolates were in the range of similar foreign studies. In some significant cases, the MICs were beyond the known ranges showing the lower sensitivity of Iranian isolates and their increased MIC patterns.
Zahra Kamali Sarwestani , Alireza Dasdar , Setareh Agha Kuchak Afshari , Mohsen Gerami Shoar , Seyyed Jamal Hashemi , Reza Pakzad , Pegah Ardi , Alireza Abdollahi , Mohammad-Taghi Haghi-Ashtiani, Shahram Mahmoudi ,
Volume 75, Issue 4 (7-2017)
Abstract
Background: Fungi have a worldwide distribution which can cause a broad spectrum of disease ranging from allergic to systemic infections, particularly in immuno-compromised individuals. Fungal spores are an important group of bioaerosols in hospital environment which are an emerging cause of hospital-acquired infection. Nosocomial infections cause significant morbidity and mortality as well as large financial burden on the healthcare system. This study aimed to evaluate the frequency and species distribution of airborne fungi in selected wards of two tertiary hospitals in Tehran, Iran.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, samples were collected during six months from July 2016 to December 2016 by using of settle plate method. Samples were collected from selected wards of Imam Khomeini Hospital and Children's Medical Center and then incubated at 28 °C for 8-10 days. Fungal isolates were identified using the macroscopic features of colony and microscopic characteristics in slide cultures. Yeast isolates were identified by CHROMagar candida medium. PCR-sequencing of ITS1-5.8 S-ITS2 region of ribosomal DNA was used for identification of unknown isolates.
Results: A total of 202 colonies including 133 colonies from the Imam Khomeini Hospital and 69 colonies from the Children's Medical Center were isolated. Cladosporium spp. were the most common obtained fungi accounted for 30.1% and 47.8% of all isolates in the Imam Khomeini Hospital and the Children's Medical Center, respectively. Penicillium spp. and Aspergillus spp. were other frequent species in two hospitals. Infectious diseases ward in Imam Khomeini hospital and emergency and urology wards in Children's Medical Center had the highest rate of contamination.
Conclusion: According to the results of this study, the frequency and diversity of fungal spores in hospital wards were different. In addition, since the fungal contamination in the hospital environment are affected by various environmental factors and the efficiency of ventilation systems, some of these wards require better ventilation system as well as regular monitoring to remove these fungal bioaerosols in order to maintain the health of patients and health care workers.
