Real-time detection of Candida albicans by PCR

Candidiasis is a disease caused by yeast–like fungus belonging to the genus Candida. Mushrooms of this genus are an integral part of the normal microflora of the oral cavity, vagina, as well as the large intestine in completely healthy people. But under certain conditions, the percentage of these fungus increases, which eventually leads to the development of candidiasis. The concentration of Candida fungus is greater than 104 CFU/ml – it is considered candidiasis.

The provoking agents that contribute to the development of candidiasis are:
Prolonged, incompetent intake of broad-spectrum antibiotics, since the fungus is not sensitive to antibiotics, while the amount of normal microbial composition of the body is sharply reduced. Due to violation of the microbial balance, there is a sharp increase in candida.

A decrease in general immunity, as a result of:

decrease in immunity;
various diseases accompanied by a prolonged inflammatory reaction;
diseases that disrupt metabolic processes in the body (deficiency of enzymes necessary for activation of cellular and humoral links of immune reactions)
a sharp change in climatic conditions;
frequent, pronounced emotional stress;
prolonged hormonal therapy with glucocorticoids
taking cytostatics (drugs that suppress the activity of the human immune system);
pregnancy (during pregnancy, the overall immune reactivity of the body is physiologically reduced, due to an increase in the production of steroid hormones, which themselves have an immunosuppressive effect)
HIV infection (deactivation of cellular immunity caused by the action of the virus on the cell membrane of immunocompetent cells, resulting in damage to the receptor apparatus of immune cells, which prevents the latter from recognizing antigenic structures)

Clinical symptomatology of genital candidiasis. In women, as a rule, candida affects the vagina and external genitalia, which is manifested by the following clinical picture:

Extreme itching and burning in the area of the external genitalia, intensified during menstruation, as well as with prolonged walking.
Abundant discharge from the vagina, having a white, curd-like appearance with an unpleasant, sour odor;
Painful sensations during sexual intercourse (dyspareunia);
Painful sensations during the act of urination.

In men, the head of the penis and foreskin are affected and symptoms appear:

Severe itching and burning sensation in the area of the head of the penis and foreskin;
Areas of redness on the head of the penis and foreskin;
Painful sensations during sexual intercourse and urination;
Whiteish plaque on the head of the penis.

The determination of Candida albicans by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is characterized by high sensitivity and specificity (98%). The principle of PCR is to identify a unique DNA fragment belonging to a given fungus, which eliminates a false positive result. If it was possible to detect fungus of the genus Candida by PCR method, then the next stage of diagnosis is a microbiological method: smear sowing for fungal microflora, which will show the number of microbes, as well as their sensitivity to antifungal agents. In the OLYMP CDL branches, PCR analysis are done in REAL-TIME mode, which means that after each hardware cycle (amplification), the amount of DNA in the biomaterial is measured. This procedure reduces the probability of a false positive result to almost zero!