en Medical Biology Medical Biology مقاله پژوهشی Original Research Article <span style="font-size:16px;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span new="" roman="" times=""><b><span style="background:#2d7f8f"><span style="color:white">Background & Objective:</span></span></b><b> </b><b>&nbsp;</b><span lang="EN"><span style="color:black">Given the high prevalence of fungal colonization in intubated patients and the importance of diagnosing hospital-acquired fungal infections, this study aimed to investigate the prevalence of fungal colonization in the tracheobronchial tree of patients undergoing prolonged mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit (ICU) and the associated risk factors affecting clinical outcomes.</span></span></span><br> <span new="" roman="" times=""><b>&nbsp;</b><b><span lang="EN-IN"><span style="background:#2d7f8f"><span style="color:white"><span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt">Materials & Methods:</span></span></span></span></b> &nbsp;<span lang="EN"><span style="color:black"><span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt">In this cross-sectional study, the medical records of 100 patients admitted to the ICU of Vali Asr and Razi Hospitals in Birjand were reviewed and recorded in a structured checklist. Mini-BAL samples were collected from the endotracheal tube and placed in sterile Falcon tubes containing physiological saline for fungal analysis. Part of the sample was sent for direct microscopy using 10% KOH and culture, while another part was sent in a screw-capped tube at &minus;20&deg;C for molecular testing using polymerase chain reaction (PCR).</span></span></span></span><br> <span new="" roman="" times=""><b><span lang="EN-IN"><span style="background:#2d7f8f"><span style="color:white">Results: </span></span></span></b><b>&nbsp;</b><span lang="EN"><span style="color:black"><span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt">In the initial examination, fungi were isolated from 43 samples in direct examination and culture, and fungal DNA was detected in 12 additional samples using PCR. <i>Candida albicans</i> (66.7%) was the most commonly identified species. Also, two cases of <i>Aspergillus flavus</i> were identified by culture and PCR. There was no significant relationship between risk factors and fungal infections. The mortality rate in patients with fungal infections was significantly higher than in those without fungal infections P = 0.019.</span></span></span></span><br> <span new="" roman="" times=""><b><span style="background:#2d7f8f"><span style="color:white">Conclusion: </span></span></b><b>&nbsp;</b><span lang="EN"><span style="color:black">Considering the high prevalence of fungal infections in ICU patients, identifying risk factors and using accurate laboratory techniques to diagnose infection and implement effective treatment strategies can prevent the colonization of fungal agents in the tracheobronchial tree.</span></span></span><br> &nbsp;</span></span> Aspergillosis, Candidiasis, Fungal Colonization, Tracheobronchial Tree, Mechanical Ventilation, Bronchoalveolar lavage 166 174 http://journal.zums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-7302-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Sayyed Gholamreza Mortazavi Moghaddam gmortazavi@bums.ac.ir 5200319475328460090091 5200319475328460090091 No Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran Fatemeh Nikoomanesh fateme.nikoomanesh@bums.ac.ir 5200319475328460090092 5200319475328460090092 No Infectious Diseases Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran Tahereh Ghaderi taherehghaderi88@gmail.com 5200319475328460090093 0009-0001-4608-8154 Yes School of Medicine, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran. Saeede Babaiyan s.babaiyan@bums.ac.ir 5200319475328460090094 5200319475328460090094 No Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran