Candida dubliniensis was reported as a new species in 1995. This species is often misidentified as Candida albicans. The aims of this work were to determine the occurrence of C. dubliniensis in various clinical materials, to evaluate several ways to identify it and to examine the genetic variability of isolates. Among 7706 isolates originally identified as C. albicans, 237 were identified as C. dubliniensis (3.1%). Most of the C. dubliniensis isolates were obtained from the upper and lower respiratory tract (61.4 and 22.9%). Five phenotypic methods including latex agglutination were used (cultivation on CHROMagar Candida, on Staib agar, at 42 °C and in medium with 6.5% NaCl), but only cultivation on the medium with an increased concentration of NaCl and latex agglutination gave reliable results. Species-specific polymerase chain reaction was used as the confirmation method. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry provided less reliable results. In fact, 78.9% of C. dubliniensis isolates had scores above 1.7. However, the rest of them (21.1%) were also identified as C. dubliniensis even when the scores were lower than 1.7. Divergences among C. dubliniensis strains were evaluated by means of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Eighty-six selected C. dubliniensis isolates showed a 69.6% level of similarity. The results of this study expand the knowledge of the incidence, means of identification and genotypic divergence of C. dubliniensis isolates.

• MeSH
• Candida classification   genetics   isolation & purification   physiology   MeSH
• Sodium Chloride metabolism   MeSH
• Genetic Variation MeSH
• Genotype MeSH
• Candidiasis microbiology   MeSH
• Latex Fixation Tests MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Microbiological Techniques methods   MeSH
• Polymerase Chain Reaction MeSH
• Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field MeSH
• Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization MeSH
• Temperature MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Sodium Chloride MeSH

A case report of ventriculoperitoneal shunt infection caused by Candida lusitaniae in a 6-year-old patient with cerebral astrocytoma and obstructive hydrocephalus is presented briefly with emphasis on the course of antifungal treatment. Seven isolates recovered subsequently from the cerebrospinal fluid were studied retrospectively. To confirm identity, isolates were typed using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and melting curve of random amplified polymorphic DNA (McRAPD). Further, the ability to form biofilm and its susceptibility to systemic antifungals were evaluated. Using McRAPD, identity of C. lusitaniae isolates showing slight microevolutionary changes in karyotypes was undoubtedly confirmed; successful application of numerical interpretation of McRAPD for typing is demonstrated here for the first time. The strain was also recognized as a strong biofilm producer. Moreover, minimum biofilm inhibitory concentrations were very high, in contrast to low antifungal minimum inhibitory concentrations of isolates. It can be concluded that McRAPD seems to be a simple and reliable method not only for identification but also for typing of yeasts. A ventriculoperitoneal shunt colonized by C. lusitaniae was revealed as the source of this nosocomial infection, and the ability of the strain to form biofilm on its surface likely caused treatment failure.

• MeSH
• Antifungal Agents pharmacology   MeSH
• Astrocytoma cerebrospinal fluid   complications   drug therapy   microbiology   pathology   surgery   MeSH
• Biofilms drug effects   growth & development   MeSH
• Candida drug effects   genetics   isolation & purification   MeSH
• Nucleic Acid Denaturation MeSH
• Child MeSH
• Hydrocephalus cerebrospinal fluid   complications   drug therapy   microbiology   pathology   surgery   MeSH
• Cross Infection cerebrospinal fluid   complications   drug therapy   microbiology   pathology   surgery   MeSH
• Candidiasis cerebrospinal fluid   complications   drug therapy   microbiology   pathology   surgery   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Microbial Sensitivity Tests MeSH
• Mycological Typing Techniques MeSH
• Brain Neoplasms cerebrospinal fluid   complications   drug therapy   microbiology   pathology   surgery   MeSH
• Treatment Failure MeSH
• Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field MeSH
• Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique * MeSH
• Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt adverse effects   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Child MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Case Reports MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Antifungal Agents MeSH