Effects of meteorological parameters on antimicrobial activity of penicillium species in hospital environment

Abstract

The atmospheric fungal spores are an ever-present component and well known particulate matter to trigger asthma and hay fever symptoms in atopic individuals. The hospital atmosphere near Chennai central, Chennai, Tamilnadu has been monitored for airborne fungal spores at several sampling stations by Petri-plate settlement method. In qualitative and quantitative way, fungal spores considerably varied from season to season. The proposed study involved the examination of the antimicrobial activity of Penicillium spp and correlated with meteorological data recorded during the study period. The bioactive compounds of Penicillium spp of hospital environment at different sites of different seasons were extracted and then subjected for its antimicrobial activity study with different bacterial pathogens. The activity was also compared using different antibiotic discs (Tetracycline, Vancomycin, Ampicillin, Amoxicillin and Penicillin-G). The Penicillium spp isolated from hospital environment during winter season showed good activity against the pathogens than the other seasons.