title: Evaluation of PNA FISH® Yeast Traffic Light in identification of Candida species from blood and non-blood culture specimens.
abstract: PNA FISH(®) (peptide nucleic acid fluorescent in situ hybridization) Yeast Traffic Light (PNA FISH(®) YTL) assay is a commercially avaliable method for rapid identification of Candida spp. directly from positive blood cultures. This report provides a one-year experience in identification of yeasts from 25 specimens (15 positive blood cultures and 10 other clinically significant specimens) using PNA FISH(®) YTL and comparing it to VITEK 2 System. Overall, assay identification compatibility with VITEK 2 System was found among 21/25 (84%) isolates tested. Only 3/25 (12%) of the isolates were not identified, and one isolate was misidentified by the PNA FISH(®) YTL assay. Our results show that the assay is a reliable method in identification of Candida spp. not only from blood cultures, but even from other clinically significant specimens (urine cultures, catheter tip cultures, peritoneal fluid cultures) when compared to automated method like VITEK 2 System. This novel application of the PNA FISH(®) YTL assay could therefore contribute to cost savings and significant benefit to patients, as rapid information about isolated yeast species is provided.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Microbiology, University Hospital Centre Split, Split, Croatia University of Split School of Medicine, Split, Croatia radicmarina14@googlemail.com.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Radic
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Microbiology, University Hospital Centre Split, Split, Croatia University of Split School of Medicine, Split, Croatia.
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Goic-Barisic
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Microbiology, University Hospital Centre Split, Split, Croatia University of Split School of Medicine, Split, Croatia.
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Novak
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Microbiology, University Hospital Centre Split, Split, Croatia University of Split School of Medicine, Split, Croatia.
authors.forename: Zana
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Rubic
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Microbiology, University Hospital Centre Split, Split, Croatia University of Split School of Medicine, Split, Croatia.
authors.forename: Marija
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tonkic
mesh_terms: D002175:Candida / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods*; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D016533:Mycological Typing Techniques / Q000379:methods; D020135:Peptide Nucleic Acids / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D020135:Peptide Nucleic Acids
keywords: PNA FISH® Yeast Traffic Light; VITEK 2 System; blood culture; catheter tip culture; peritoneal fluid culture; urine culture