title: Molecular species identification of Candida from blood samples of intensive care unit patients by polymerase chain reaction - restricted fragment length polymorphism.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Candida spp is an emerging cause of blood stream infections worldwide. Delay in speciation of Candida isolates by conventional methods and resistance to antifungal drugs (especially fluconazole, amphotericin B, etc.) in various Candida species are some of the factors responsible for the increase in morbidity and mortality due to candidemia. So, the rapid detection and identification of Candida isolates from blood is very important for the proper management of patients having candidemia.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, we have used polymerase chain reaction (PCR) - restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) as a method for the speciation of Candida isolates from blood samples of intensive care unit (ICU) patients. PCR was used to amplify the ITS-1 and ITS-2 regions of Candida spp using universal primers ITS-1 and ITS-4. The amplified product was digested using Msp I restriction enzyme by RFLP.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The method PCR-RFLP helped in identifying five medically important Candida spp (C. tropicalis, C. albicans, C. parapsilosis, C. krusei and C. glabrata) from blood. This method is rapid, reliable, easy and cost-effective and can be used in routine laboratory diagnostics for the rapid identification of Candida isolates from blood.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PCR-RFLP is an easy, rapid and highly valuable tool which can be used in routine diagnostic laboratories to speciate Candida isolates obtained from blood. This rapid method of speciation will help clinicians to decide on empirical therapy in candidemia cases before antifungal susceptibility results are available.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute, Sri Ramachandra University, Porur, Chennai, India.
authors.forename: Ramraj
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vijayakumar
authors.forename: Sidhartha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Giri
authors.forename: Anupma Jyoti
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Kindo