The occurrence of fungi in hospital and community potable waters

The prevalence of fungi was investigated in 126 potable water samples (84 h ospital and 42 community samples), in parallel with the standard pollution indicator micro-organisms, Filamentous fungi were isolated from 104 of 126 (82.5%) samples and yeasts from 14(11.1%), whereas their mean counts were 3 6.6 and 4.4, respectively. Fungi were isolated from 95.2% of community and 76.2% of hospital water samples, with the difference being statistically si gnificant (P < 0.05), while yeasts were isolated from 9.5 and 11.9%, respec tively. Prevailing genera were Penicillium spp., isolated from 64, Aspergil lus spp., from 53, and Candida, from nine of the examined samples. Colony-f orming units of yeasts were significantly correlated with those of total an d faecal coliforms, whereas the counts of filamentous fungi were significan tly correlated with total heterotrophic bacteria counts. These results sugg est that tap water is a potential transmission route for fungi both in hosp itals and the community in the examined region and may pose a health hazard mainly for the immunocompromised host.