Table 2. Fungal contamination on used surgical masks (cfu/ml/piece) by studied wards: inside and outside areas of the masks (n = 230).
| Studied wards | Mean ± SD of fungal contamination (cfu/ml/piece) | |
|---|---|---|
| Inside mask | Outside mask | |
| Male medical ward (n=40) Female medical ward (n=40) Emergency room (n=40) Operation room (n=50) Intensive care unit (n=30) Out-patient department (n=30) |
18 ± 13 13 ± 5 18 ± 7 13 ± 5 16 ± 13 12 ± 4 |
33 ± 20 38 ± 15 18 ± 8 32 ± 15 21 ± 7 44 ± 27 |
| Total (n=230) | 15 ± 8 * | 33 ± 18 * |
* Statistically significant difference by paired t-test, p<0.001
Remarks: Most isolated fungi from inside areas were Aspergillus spp (37%) and Penicillium spp. (31%), and most isolated fungi from outside areas were Aspergillus spp. (43%) and Penicillium spp. (25%).