Anemophilic Fungal Microbiota Infections in Hospital Environments: A Narrative Review

Abstract

The aim of this article is to discuss the occurrence of anemophilic fungi in hospital environments, elaborating on the characteristics of these pathogens, the primary risks of contamination, and the necessary precautions for protecting non-admitted patients. Regarding the methodological processes, this study is based on a literature review, considering sources found in books, scientific articles, and theses published on academic websites such as Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO) and Science Open Research. Inclusion criteria were limited to sources that addressed the occurrence of anemophilic fungi in hospital environments within the predetermined period: from 2010 to 2023. Sources dealing with other topics or published outside the specified timeframe were not considered. According to the results, it was observed that the main fungi found in hospital environments were the genera Aspergillus ssp., Penicillium ssp., Rhizopus ssp., and Mucor ssp., with the primary infection areas being the ICUs and wards. Thus, it was concluded that the occurrence of infections by anemophilic fungi is still very common in hospital environments, requiring increased attention to control and sterilization protocols by healthcare institutions.