Pulsed Field Gell Electrophoresis (PFGE) as an Epidemiological Typing Method in detecting Nosocomial outbreaks of Candida Parapsilosis

Abstract

Nosocomial infections with Candida species have emerged as an increasingly important cause of mortality and morbidity in the intensive care unit. We investigated apparent outbreaks of serious C. Parapsilosis infection from intensive care unit of two hospitals. C parapsilosis was also recovered from the hands of two nurses from one of the units. DNA subtyping was performed by using the novel technqieu of pulsedfield gel electrophoresis (PFGE). The results of the study indicate genetic variatin among the isolates and was were able to discriminate isolates that were indistinguishable by the conventional methods such as biotyping and antibiotic susceptibiltiy typing. It revealed three genetically distinct groups fo C. parapsilosis isolates. electrophoretic karyotyping by PFGE appear to be more useful molecular tool for discriminating among strains of C. parapsilosis and will be a useful marker for evaluating the epidemiology of future C. parapsilosis infections.