Nosocomial fungal infections in neonatal intensive care units are a serious emerging problem. However, the role of fungal bio-aerosols as the source of such infections has not been explored in the NICU setting. Hence, this study was done to know the fungal composition of aerosols in NICU as the source of neonatal nosocomial infections. 1m3 of NICU air was sampled fortnightly over 12 months onto SDA with chloramphenicol using a sieve type air sampler. AC filter dust & clinical samples (in BHI broth) from neonates developing signs & symptoms of infection 48hrs after admission to NICU were also taken. Inoculated media were incubated at 25o & 37oC for upto 3 weeks & on growth, colony count per m3 of air was estimated. Fungi grown on SDA plate were identified by standard conventional techniques. 81% of air samples yielded mixed growth with predominance of Aspergillus flavus & Aspergillus niger (66.6%) while 19% yielded pure isolates with predominance of Rhizopus rhizopodiformis (9.5%). AC filter dust, yielded mixed growth of flavus & niger (61%), puregrowth of Aspergillus niger (33.3%) & Aspergillus flavus (4.7%). Incidence of nosocomial fungal infection was 8.09 per thousand per yr. In 6% cases, fungal bio-aerosols are suspected to be the source with case fatality rate of 83.3%. This study highlights the role of Aspergillus spp. in bio-aerosols of NICU as the potential source of nosocomial infection leading to early high mortality in neonates. Continuous monitoring & surveillance of fungal bio-aerosols as source of nosocomial infections in NICU air need to be done over a long period of time to institute suitable corrective action.

Download this article as