Abstract
Hospital environment has factors that promote increased infections caused by microorganisms allowing them to remain viable for long periods on surfaces and fomites. The aim of our study was to identify the viability of Candida albicans in hospital environment common surfaces with biological fluids presence and disinfectants. Four surfaces (cotton fabric, synthetic fabric, egg crate foam mattress and, ceramic floor) were contaminated with a strain of Candida albicans ATCC 26790 and with an association of distilled water, blood, saliva and urine. Also, combinations of surfaces and fluids with addition of 70% alcohol and 2% sodium hypochlorite were tested. Viability was identified at 1, 3, 7, 14 and 21 days by Colony Forming Units counting. C. albicans presented 14 days viability in hospitals fabrics with absence of liquids and maintained this persistence under influence of distilled water and blood. It also showed low growth with urine addition and there was growth inhibition with 2% sodium hypochlorite while with 70% alcohol and blood there was persistence for up to 7 days in synthetic fabric and mattress. The understanding of these yeasts persistence in hospital surfaces and fomites is essential for a better delineation of protocols control the spread and these infections prevention in healthcare environments.
Highlights
Candida albicans adhesins secretion and ability to form hyphae contributes to the formation of fungal biofilm (Chen et al, 2020; Mccall et al, 2019, Ponde et al, 2021)
C. albicans survival in hospital fabrics remains the same that we found in absence of fluids (14 days) under distilled water addition
C. albicans was able to survive for 7 days on synthetic fabric, ceramic floor and mattress, in cotton fabric; its survival rate was observed for three days
Summary
Candida albicans adhesins secretion and ability to form hyphae contributes to the formation of fungal biofilm (Chen et al, 2020; Mccall et al, 2019, Ponde et al, 2021) It allows the yeast attachment, maintenance and propagation on abiotic surfaces for long periods and can make these environments sources for cross-infection in the healthcare environment (Safdar et al, 2019; Viela et al, 2020). This fungi is able to modulate the metabolism in different environmental conditions as variable temperature, pH and osmolarity, and availability of nutrients (Santos et al, 2018).
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