Journal of Bacteriology & Parasitology

Frequency of Protozoa and Fungi in the Bronchoalveolar Lavage (BAL) Specimens at the Bronchoscopy Section in the Hospitals of Iran

3^rd International Congress on Bacteriology and Infectious Diseases

August 04-06, 2015 Valencia, Spain

Mohammad Zibaei1, Alireza Azargoon2, Asghar Sepahvand2, Farzaneh Firoozeh3

Posters-Accepted Abstracts: J Bacteriol Parasitol

Abstract:

The increasing application of confounding technology in medicine and the use of new methods of treatment have led to the
emergence of a growing number of patients susceptible to dangerous and invasive infections. Immunocompromised people
are prone to a variety of opportunistic infections including by bacteria, fungi, parasites and viruses. Lungs are among the most
important organs involved in opportunistic infections. Fast and accurate detection of lung infections is essential. Therefore,
we decided to design a study to investigate the prevalence and abundance of protozoan and fungi in the bronchoscopy and
bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples from the patients undergoing medical bronchoscopy using medical indication. This
descriptive epidemiological study was conducted in Shohaday Ashayer and Rahimi hospitals in Khoram Abad, from August
2013 to August 2014. The patients were selected from the people undergoing bronchoscopy, and the bronchoscopy BAL samples
were prepared by the physician. Laboratory investigations included direct smear and culture to examine fungi and direct
observation to examine protozoan. Demographic and clinical data were collected from the patients and analyzed by the SPSS.
Fifty patients underwent bronchoscopy and the BAL samples were prepared. The mean age of the patients was 60.1±18.6 years.
Positive smears were observed in 19 patients (38.0%) and 16 patients (32%) had abnormal pathology consistent with fungal
infection. The most common fungal agent in smear specimens was Candida albicans (31.3%), Giardia spp. positive smears
were also observed in 4 patients. Analysis of the clinical status of patients, along with laboratory diagnosis, is essential. Also, in
order to determine the status of some fungal diseases, the cooperation of mycologists and physicians who are responsible for
the patient’s clinical care is required.