Antifungal activity of benzalkonium chloride, dettol, and chlorhexidine on opportunistic isolated fungi from the environment and operating rooms in private clinics of Tehran in 2011

Due to increasing of fungal infections and isolation of fungal agents from different surgery sites and Intensive Care Units، the administration of effective disinfectants is essential. The present study was done to evaluate antifungal activity of various disinfectants on fungi isolated from the environment and surgery rooms in private clinics in Tehran between 2011 and 2012. This cross- sectional study was done during 2011- 2012 in Tehran. The fungi involved were isolated using plating and a sterile carpet. Thirty three samples were randomly selected and identified through slide cultures. Fungal suspensions were extracted from each fungus under cell ranges 0. 5×104μg/cfu to 5×104μg/cfu and antifungal activities of disinfectants with defined concentration were evaluated by means of spectrophotometer after a lapse of 15، 30، and 60 min. The most prevalent case of fungus was Aspergillus (i. e. 13 cases or 39. %) and the least were Circinella and Alternaria each diagnosed only in 1 case (3%). Benzalkonium chloride (6%) and Dettol (2. 5%) with antifungal activity against 27 cases (81. 81%) and 26 cases (78. 8%) were the most effective disinfectants، respectively after a lapse of 30 or 60 min، while 3% chlorhexidine. proved to be the least effective disinfectant after 15، 30 or 60 min. Benzalkonium chloride and Dettol had a complete antifungal activity، but chlorhexidine was found to be the least effective agent.. Therefore، the tested concentrations give out their most fungicidal activity as disinfectants، if their durability is taken into account.