DRINKING WATER AS A SOURCE OF RESISTANT STRAINS OF PATHOGENIC FUNGI ASPERGILLUS AND CANDIDA

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11603/1681-2786.2025.4.15892

Keywords:

antifungal agents; Aspergillus spp.; Candida parapsilosis species complex; drinking water; health impact; resistance.

Abstract

Objective: To determine the degree of resistance of Aspergillus spp. and Candida spp. isolated from Slovenian groundwater and drinking water samples to nine commercial antifungal agents. Materials and methods: Candida parapsilosis and Aspergillus spp. strains from 24 groundwater samples, 135 drinking water and water contact material samples, and seven C. parapsilosis strains from clinical material were analyzed. Antifungal susceptibility testing was performed using the YeastOne YO10 Kit (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA) with nine antifungal agents. Results. The study focused on the identification of Aspergillus spp. and Candida spp. isolated from different water sources and water contact materials. They were identified in 42 % (genus Aspergillus) and 16 % (genus Candida) of drinking water samples, suggesting a certain health risk, especially in hospitals, for immunocompromised patients. The isolated strains were tested for nine antifungal drugs to assess the prevalence of resistance in these strains. Only one strain of Aspergillus protuberus was resistant to amphotericin B. However, all Candida strains were intermediately resistant to anidulafungin and micafungin, 5.8 % were borderline resistant to 5-flucytosine and fluconazole, and 3 % to voriconazole. Candida parapsilosis sensu stricto isolated from water samples had statistically higher minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for anidulafungin than clinical strains, and clinical strains had statistically higher MICs for itraconazole. Statistical analysis showed that habitat is significant for higher MIC in C. parapsilosis. The results are to clarify and expand the understanding of the ecological reservoirs of resistant strains of pathogenic fungi and their possible impact on nosocomial infections. Conclusion. Strains of pathogenic fungi with borderline resistance to antifungal drugs can be transmitted through water. Therefore, drinking water should be considered as a possible source of resistant strains in hospitals and healthcare facilities. The results of the study contribute to a broader understanding of antifungal drug resistance in oligotrophic aquatic systems, providing valuable information for public health interventions and guiding future research efforts in the field of environmental mycology.

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Published

2025-12-31

How to Cite

DUBOVYK, S. L. (2025). DRINKING WATER AS A SOURCE OF RESISTANT STRAINS OF PATHOGENIC FUNGI ASPERGILLUS AND CANDIDA. Bulletin of Social Hygiene and Health Protection Organization of Ukraine, (4), 18–23. https://doi.org/10.11603/1681-2786.2025.4.15892

Issue

No. 4 (2025)

Section

Public health

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