Identification of Candida Isolates from Cancer Patients Using Multiplex PCR

Aim of this study was to identify the Candida isolates from Cancer Hospital Maharagama, Sri Lanka by using Multiplex PCR (polymerase chain reaction) method. In this study, Multiplex PCR was used to identify Candida isolates from cancer patients at Apeksha Hospital, Sri Lanka. In multiplex PCR, 18 specific primers (nine primer pairs) were separated into three groups for multiplex PCR (PS I, PS II and PS III). Different sized PCR products corresponding to each Candida species were produced by PCR using the primer mixes. Among 52 Candida isolates, 49 were identified using the multiplex PCR procedure. Candida tropicalis was found to be the most prevalent species (38%), followed by Candida parapsilosis (31%), Candida albicans (13%), Candida glabrata (8%) and Candida krusei (4%). The study concludes that multiplex PCR is a better approach for the identification of Candida species and recommends the use of it for clinical and diagnostic purposes and for research purposes.