Epidemiology and molecular identification of mixed yeast isolates in Malaysia- A way forward

Background and Purpose: Invasive candidiasis is one of the most common systemicmycoses, and studies have shown mixed yeast infections. Malaysia lacks mixed yeastculture data.Materials and Methods: Yeast isolates were collected in Sultan Abdul Halim Hospital,North Malaysia, from October ۲۰۲۰ to October ۲۰۲۱. Chromogenic Candida differentialagar media and PCR-RFLP were used to identify yeast species.Results: A total of ۲۰۶ yeast isolates were collected from different body sites of patients.The majority of the yeast isolates (n=۱۰۴) were obtained from the urine. Other isolates were extracted from blood (n=۵۲), vaginal swabs (n=۴۵), ear discharge (n=۲), tracheal aspirate (n=۲), tissue (n=۲), skin (n=۱), nail (n=۱), sputum (n=۱), and cerebrospinal fluid (n=۱). In total, ۲۰۰ yeast samples were identified as single species, and six isolates were a mixture of Candida species.Conclusion: Malaysia lacks accurate epidemiological data on mixed yeast infections.We identified all samples to the species level, including mixed yeast cultures, using theMspI enzyme and PCR-RFLP.

Keywords:

candida albicans , Candida glabrata , Mixed yeast infections , MspI , PCR RFLP