Study of Aeromycoflora in Different Area of ...

Study of Aeromycoflora in Different Area of Balrampur Hospital, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh

Author Name : Dr. Madhu Prakash Srivastava, Mamta Chaudhari, Dr. Kanchan Awasthi, Dr. Neeraj Jain

ABSTRACT The study conducted in Balrampur Hospital, Lucknow aimed to isolate and identify the fungal load in the indoor and outdoor air of different patient wards. The investigation focused on aeromycoflora, which denotes airborne fungal spores present in the atmosphere. The study was carried out between January and March 2024. Potato Dextrose agar plates were used as the medium for fungal culture. These plates were exposed directly to the air, positioned near patient tables and beds in both indoor and outdoor areas, for a duration of 30 to 35 minutes. Following exposure, the plates were then incubated at 27°C for one week. After the incubation period, the fungal colonies that had grown were subjected to morphological studies. This involved taking pictures using a camera and preparing slides for microscopic examination. The identification of fungal species was based on their morphological characteristics observed under the microscope. The results of the morphological studies revealed a total of 6 to 7 airborne fungal species in both the indoor and outdoor areas. Among these species, Rhizopus, Aspergillus, Mucor,were identified. However, there were some species that could not be conclusively identified. It was noted that Aspergillus was the dominant species, followed by Rhizopus and Mucor, in the air of Balrampur Hospital patient wards. This indicates the presence of a variety of fungal species in the hospital environment, with Aspergillus being particularly prevalent.