The presence of fungi in hospital water could cause allergic reactions or other fungal related diseases to immune-compromised people who come in contact with the water. The fungi contamination in water sources in health institutions and its antifungal susceptibility was investigated. A total of 48 water samples from water dispensers, outdoor taps, washing hand faucets in the rest-room and theatre wards were collected from the four health institutions (Immanuel clinic, Estaville hospital, Meridian hospital, La-Rosa hospital). The fungi were enumerated using the spread plate method. The American Public Health Association method was used in determining the physicochemical parameters. The disk diffusion method was used for the antifungal susceptibility testing. Sterile disks containing Nystatin (3.3 µg/ml), fluconazole (3.3 µg/ml), and Itraconazole (3.3 µg/ml) were placed on the surface of the inoculated plates and incubated for 72 hours. Results showed that the water samples had high fungal counts, with the highest fungal counts (1.5×106 SFU/ml) in La Rosa dispenser water, while the least was from washing hand water in La Rosa hospital. Significant differences (P<0.05) were observed in all samples. Paecilomyces sp and Penicillium sp were the most prevalent fungal isolates, while Gliocladium sp was the least common. Physicochemical parameters showed variations in temperature (27.4-27.6°C), pH (5.79-6.57), total dissolved solids (10-94 mg/L) and hardness (0.68-6.42 mg/L). The antifungal susceptibility tests showed that Candida sp was highly susceptible to fluconazole (30mm), nystatin (33m) and itraconazole (30mm), while other isolates such as Paecilomyces sp and Penicillium sp showed no susceptibility to the antifungals. The study therefore recommends an improved water quality management in health institutions to reduce contamination.
