Detection of molds in hospital plumbing and on environmental surfaces using the swab culture sampling method
| Source . | Total positive sites/total tested sites (%) . | Molds recovered* . | Positive sites by molds . |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water tanks, inner walls/draining ports | 13/48 (27) | Alternaria | 7 |
| Bipolaris | 4 | ||
| Penicillium | 4 | ||
| Cladosporium | 3 | ||
| Acremonium | 2 | ||
| Sinks† | 78/334 (23) | Paecilomyces | 38 |
| Acremonium | 23 | ||
| Penicillium | 6 | ||
| Showers‡ | 147/721 (20) | Paecilomyces | 63 |
| Aspergillus | 30 | ||
| Penicillium | 30 | ||
| Fusarium | 25 | ||
| Acremonium | 20 | ||
| Toilets2-153 | 8/34 (23) | Aspergillus | 4 |
| Penicillium | 5 | ||
| Paecilomyces | 1 | ||
| Cladosporium | 1 | ||
| Patient rooms2-154 | 38/174 (22) | Penicillium | 19 |
| Aspergillus | 12 | ||
| Alternaria | 10 | ||
| Cladosporium | 6 |
| Source . | Total positive sites/total tested sites (%) . | Molds recovered* . | Positive sites by molds . |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water tanks, inner walls/draining ports | 13/48 (27) | Alternaria | 7 |
| Bipolaris | 4 | ||
| Penicillium | 4 | ||
| Cladosporium | 3 | ||
| Acremonium | 2 | ||
| Sinks† | 78/334 (23) | Paecilomyces | 38 |
| Acremonium | 23 | ||
| Penicillium | 6 | ||
| Showers‡ | 147/721 (20) | Paecilomyces | 63 |
| Aspergillus | 30 | ||
| Penicillium | 30 | ||
| Fusarium | 25 | ||
| Acremonium | 20 | ||
| Toilets2-153 | 8/34 (23) | Aspergillus | 4 |
| Penicillium | 5 | ||
| Paecilomyces | 1 | ||
| Cladosporium | 1 | ||
| Patient rooms2-154 | 38/174 (22) | Penicillium | 19 |
| Aspergillus | 12 | ||
| Alternaria | 10 | ||
| Cladosporium | 6 |
Aspergillus species recovered in surface swab samples included A niger (50 %), A fumigatus (19 %),A terreus (14 %), A flavus (9 %),A nidulans (7%), and A sydowi (1%). All thePaecilomyces species were P lilacinus. Twelve of 37 Fusarium species could be identified; 8 (67%) wereF solani and 4 (33%) were F oxysporum.
Molds shown are those that accounted for ≥10% of positive swab samples. Other molds recovered include Bipolaris, Chaetomium, Chrysonilia, Curvularia, Epicoccum, Mucor, Nigrospora, Oospora, Phialophora, and Trichoderma species.
Includes drains and drain covers (n = 119), surfaces (n = 88), plumbing and faucet aerators (n = 65), and O-ring seals (n = 62).
Includes drain and drain covers (n = 154), floors (n = 154), walls (n = 176), shower heads (n = 158), and plumbing (n = 79).
Includes seats (n = 16) and bowls (n = 18).
Includes HEPA filter surfaces (n = 17), walls (n = 31), floors (n = 34), windowsills (n = 17), room surfaces (n = 51), objects related to patient care (mattress, thermometer case, stethoscope pad, oxygen nozzle; n = 24).