CONTAMINATION OF HEMODIALYSIS FLUIDS BY FUNGAL BIOFILMS AND THEIR IMPLICATION FOR PUBLIC HEALTH

Abstract

Purpose: Although monitoring is constant, microbial contamination in hemodialysis fluid lines is reported. Temperature, oxygenation, pH, and salinity gradients can modulate metabolism leading microorganisms to more resistant forms such as biofilms, which constitute a microbial communit enveloped by a layer of polysaccharides. In this study, was evaluated the effect of microaerophylia and pH on the formation of biofilms by fungi from genus Aspergillus , Fusarium e Penicilllium , previously recovered from a hospital Hemodialysis Service. Methods: The biofilms were formed in 96-well microplates at 30°C for 72 hours, under microaerophilia, using dialysis fluids (dialysate plus glucose, dialysate, acid solution and basic solution) and standard culture medium as a nutrient medium. The methodology of crystal violet quantifies the biofilms biomass. Results : Macro and micromorphological analyzes identified phenotypically the isolates in Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus terreus, Fusarium oxysporum, Penicillium bravicompactum e Penicillium spp. All fungal isolates formed biofilm in all dialysis fluids. The basic solution favored biofilm formation for Aspergillus . The neutral pH favored the formation of biofilms for 70% of the isolates of F. oxysporum and for 100% of the isolates of Penicillium. Conclusion : Exposure to fungal spores coupled with low immunity of patients under renal therapy can lead to colonization and infections, increasing comorbidities and the development of secondary infections, which contribute to increased hospitalizations and burden on public spending.