title: Mammary candidiasis: molecular-based detection of Candida species in human milk samples.
abstract: In this prospective and monocentric study, we investigated the performance of a commercialized real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test system for the specific detection of DNA from Candida albicans, C. dubliniensis, C. glabrata, C. krusei, C. lusitaniae, C. parapsilosis, and C. tropicalis in human milk samples of patients suspicious of mammary candidiasis. For this purpose, 43 breast-feeding women with characteristic symptoms of mammary candidiasis and 40 asymptomatic controls were enrolled. By culture, Candida spp. were detected in 8.8 % (4/46) and 9.3 % (4/43) of patient and control samples, respectively. Candida albicans (2/46), C. parapsilosis (1/46), and C. guilliermondii (1/46) were present in patient samples, and C. lusitaniae (3/43) and C. guilliermondii (1/43) were present in the controls. After RT-PCR was applied, Candida spp. were found to be present in 67.4 % (31/46) and 79.1 % (34/43) of patient and control samples investigated, respectively. PCR detection of C. albicans and C. parapsilosis revealed only a low sensitivity and specificity of 67.4 % and 41.9 %, respectively. Our data do not support the use of Candida RT-PCR for sensitive and specific diagnosis of mammary candidiasis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria. hygiene-bakteriologie@i-med.ac.at.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Mutschlechner
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Pediatrics I, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Karall
authors.affiliation: Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hartmann
authors.affiliation: General Medical Practitioner and Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) in Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Streiter
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Pediatrics I, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baumgartner-Sigl
authors.affiliation: Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Orth-Höller
authors.affiliation: Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lass-Flörl
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics; D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D002175:Candida / Q000235:genetics*; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000382:microbiology*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000382:microbiology*; D058889:Molecular Typing / Q000379:methods*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004271:DNA, Fungal