The article describes the discovery that extremophilic opportunistic pathognic fungi colonize not only dishwashers, but also washing machines, primarily the rubber seals on the door and the plastic containers for the detergent and softener. They enter the washing machines via the tap water system and become selectively enriched. Washing machine mycobiota is dominated by opportunitic pathogenic species of the genera Candida and Fusarium, that colonize as well dishwashers.
COBISS.SI-ID: 3335759
The article describes the discovery that opportunistic pathogenic fungi, including black yeasts and in particular the species Exophiala dermatitidis, found for the first time in tap water, and different species of filamenous fungi of the genus Fusarium, colonize drinking water of tap water systems and wells. Water acts as vector for the contamination of households with fungi. Adapted species become enriched and form together with bacteria mixed biofilms on different artificial surfaces, while others are "washed out" from the system. Most common water disinfection method - chlorination - inhibits only bacterial growth, while opportunistic pathogenc fungi remain unaffected.
COBISS.SI-ID: 3676751
The article describes the discovery thatselected opportunistic pathogenic fungi, amongst them the black yeasts Exophiala dermatitidis and E. phaeomuriformis, do not colonize only the rubber seals, but also the enire interior of the dishwashers - in all 10 different sampled sites. They were most numerous on different plastic materials. They spread from the dishwasher into the environment via waste water and into the kitchens via aerosols. Working surfaces of kitchens with dishwashers were dominated by black yeasts, while in kitchens without dishwashers white yeasts prevailed, in particular the species Candida parapsilosis.
COBISS.SI-ID: 3775311
The article describes results of sampling of fungi colonizing the rubber seals and plastic draweres for washing powder and softeners of Turkish washing machines.Results obtained on almost 1000 washing machines confirm results obtained in the framework of the previous Slovenian study that demonstrated the selective enrichment of certain species of fungi, unregarding the geographic location of the appliances. Both studies showed the dominance of the white yeast Candida parapsilosis, known as an emerging fungal pathogen. C. parapsilosis causes primarily nosocomial infections and is known for its ability to form biofilms, in particular on articial surfaces such as i.e.catheters.
COBISS.SI-ID: 4241231
In the review article we collected and compared results of the analyses of fungal diversity on rubber seals of dishwashers sampled in Slovenia, Turkey and glabally, on all continents. Analysis of reults confirmed that 6-7 species of fungi colonizes dishwashers, unregarding their geographic location, age of the dishwasher, frequency of use, hygienic standards, or type of vessels/food that is being washed. Results confirm that conditions in the dishwashers enable selective survival and propagation of polyextremophilic fungi, that tolerate high temperatures, changing pH values, high salinity, oxidative stress, oligotrophic conditions and that have the abilty to adhere to surfaces and form biofilms.
COBISS.SI-ID: 3379791