DNA Determination of Candida Species in Blood Cultures of Patients in Oncology Department and Intensive Care Unit in Zanjan Valiasr Hospital, 2017-2018

Candidiasis is one of the most serious problems in adult and neonatal intensive care units. Molecular techniques play a key role in identifying invasive fungal infections and could be of great benefit beside other mycological diagnostic methods such as smear preparation and blood culture. The aim of this study was to detect candida species isolated from patients in oncology unit and intensive care unit in Zanjan Valiasr Hospital, Iran.

In this cross-sectional descriptive study, we examined 154 patients between November 2017 and May 2018. Blood culture was done and PCR was carried out after DNA extraction.

In this study, Candidemia was found to be considerably higher in men with a mean age of 72 years old compared with women. Also, more than one procedure in a patient, fever, and antibiotic treatments were the main underlying factors causing Candidemia. In this study, blood cultures were positive for yeast growth in 2.6% of the patients (C. albicans in 1.3%, C. tropicalis in 0.65%, and C. glabrata in 0.65 %(. 

Candida species are among the main causes of blood infection in patients admitted to intensive care units and death rate of the condition can approach 100% in case of late diagnosis.