Biomaterial Database

Potted plants in hospitals as reservoirs of pathogenic fungi. 1989

R C Summerbell, and S Krajden, and J Kane

Mycology Laboratory, Ontario Ministry of Health Laboratory Services Branch, Toronto, Canada.

The soils of five potted plants cultivated within a hospital were investigated for the presence of fungal opportunistic pathogens of humans. A total of 16 potentially pathogenic species were isolated, including Aspergillus fumigatus at up to 53.5 colony-forming units (CFU) per gram dry soil and Scedosporium apiospermum (Pseudallescheria boydii) at up to 97.0 CFU/g. Other common species included Phialophora verrucosa and Fusarium solani. Scedosporium inflatum, a recently described emerging pathogen, is reported for the first time from an environmental source. The results of this study, in combination with previous case reports linking mycoses to potted plants and available information on the establishment and dispersal of fungal opportunistic pathogens in indoor habitats, indicate that indoor plant soils constitute a serious mycotic hazard to the immunosuppressed patient.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009181	Mycoses	Diseases caused by FUNGI.	Fungus Diseases,Fungal Diseases,Fungal Infections,Fungus Infections,Disease, Fungal,Disease, Fungus,Diseases, Fungal,Diseases, Fungus,Fungal Disease,Fungal Infection,Fungus Disease,Fungus Infection,Infection, Fungal,Infection, Fungus,Infections, Fungal,Infections, Fungus
D009894	Opportunistic Infections	An infection caused by an organism which becomes pathogenic under certain conditions, e.g., during immunosuppression.	Infection, Opportunistic,Infections, Opportunistic,Opportunistic Infection
D010676	Phialophora	A mitosporic fungal genus. Phialophora verrucosa is a cause of chromomycosis (CHROMOBLASTOMYCOSIS). Ophiobolus is the teleomorph of Phialophora.	Phialophoras
D010944	Plants	Multicellular, eukaryotic life forms of kingdom Plantae. Plants acquired chloroplasts by direct endosymbiosis of CYANOBACTERIA. They are characterized by a mainly photosynthetic mode of nutrition; essentially unlimited growth at localized regions of cell divisions (MERISTEMS); cellulose within cells providing rigidity; the absence of organs of locomotion; absence of nervous and sensory systems; and an alternation of haploid and diploid generations. It is a non-taxonomical term most often referring to LAND PLANTS. In broad sense it includes RHODOPHYTA and GLAUCOPHYTA along with VIRIDIPLANTAE.	Plant
D011541	Pseudallescheria	Ascomycetous fungi, family Microascaceae, order Microascales, commonly found in the soil. They are causative agents of mycetoma, maduromycosis, and other infections in humans.	Allescheria,Petriellidium,Allescherias,Petriellidiums,Pseudallescherias
D003428	Cross Infection	Any infection which a patient contracts in a health-care institution.	Hospital Infections,Nosocomial Infections,Health Care Associated Infection,Health Care Associated Infections,Healthcare Associated Infections,Infection, Cross,Infections, Hospital,Infections, Nosocomial,Cross Infections,Healthcare Associated Infection,Hospital Infection,Infection, Healthcare Associated,Infection, Hospital,Infection, Nosocomial,Infections, Cross,Infections, Healthcare Associated,Nosocomial Infection
D004197	Disease Reservoirs	Animate or inanimate sources which normally harbor disease-causing organisms and thus serve as potential sources of disease outbreaks. Reservoirs are distinguished from vectors (DISEASE VECTORS) and carriers, which are agents of disease transmission rather than continuing sources of potential disease outbreaks. Humans may serve both as disease reservoirs and carriers.	Disease Reservoir,Human Disease Reservoirs,Infectious Disease Reservoir,Reservoirs of Infection,Infectious Disease Reservoirs,Disease Reservoir, Human,Disease Reservoir, Infectious,Disease Reservoirs, Human,Human Disease Reservoir,Infection Reservoir,Infection Reservoirs,Reservoir, Disease,Reservoir, Infectious Disease,Reservoirs, Human Disease
D005093	Exophiala	A normally saprophytic mitosporic Chaetothyriales fungal genus. Infections in humans include PHAEOHYPHOMYCOSIS; and PERITONITIS. Exophiala jeanselmei (previously Phialophora jeanselmei) is an etiological agent of MYCETOMA.	Cladosporium werneckii,Hortaea werneckii,Phialophora gougerotii,Phialophora jeanselmei,Pullularia jeanselmei,Wangiella,Exophiala jeanselmei
D005658	Fungi	A kingdom of eukaryotic, heterotrophic organisms that live parasitically as saprobes, including MUSHROOMS; YEASTS; smuts, molds, etc. They reproduce either sexually or asexually, and have life cycles that range from simple to complex. Filamentous fungi, commonly known as molds, refer to those that grow as multicellular colonies.	Fungi, Filamentous,Molds,Filamentous Fungi,Filamentous Fungus,Fungus,Fungus, Filamentous,Mold
D005670	Fusarium	A mitosporic Hypocreales fungal genus, various species of which are important parasitic pathogens of plants and a variety of vertebrates. Teleomorphs include GIBBERELLA.	Fusariums