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Journal of Clinical Microbiology, September 2008, p. 3021-3027, Vol. 46, No. 9
0095-1137/08/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/JCM.00689-08
Copyright © 2008, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Multiplex Tandem PCR: a Novel Platform for Rapid Detection and Identification of Fungal Pathogens from Blood Culture Specimens{triangledown}

Anna Lau,1,2 Tania C. Sorrell,1,2 Sharon Chen,1,3 Keith Stanley,4 Jonathan Iredell,1,2,3 and Catriona Halliday1,3*

Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology,1 Westmead Millennium Institute, University of Sydney,2 Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology Laboratory Services, Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research, Sydney West Area Health Service, Westmead,3 AusDiagnostics Pty. Ltd., 3/36 O'Riordan St., Alexandria, New South Wales, Australia4

Received 11 April 2008/ Returned for modification 18 June 2008/ Accepted 5 July 2008

We describe the first development and evaluation of a rapid multiplex tandem PCR (MT-PCR) assay for the detection and identification of fungi directly from blood culture specimens that have been flagged as positive. The assay uses a short-cycle multiplex amplification, followed by 12 simultaneous PCRs which target the fungal internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) and ITS2 region, elongation factor 1-{alpha} (EF1-{alpha}), and β-tubulin genes to identify 11 fungal pathogens: Candida albicans, Candida dubliniensis, Candida glabrata, Candida guilliermondii, Candida krusei, Candida parapsilosis complex, Candida tropicalis, Cryptococcus neoformans complex, Fusarium solani, Fusarium species, and Scedosporium prolificans. The presence or absence of a fungal target was confirmed by melting curve analysis. Identification by MT-PCR correlated with culture-based identification for 44 (100%) patients. No cross-reactivity was detected in 200 blood culture specimens that contained bacteria or in 30 blood cultures without microorganisms. Fungi were correctly identified in five specimens with bacterial coinfection and in blood culture samples that were seeded with a mixture of yeast cells. The MT-PCR assay was able to provide rapid (<2 h), sensitive, and specific simultaneous detection and identification of fungal pathogens directly from blood culture specimens.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, New South Wales 2145, Australia. Phone: 61-2-9845 6255. Fax: 61-2-9891 5317. E-mail: Catriona.Halliday{at}swahs.health.nsw.gov.au

{triangledown} Published ahead of print on 16 July 2008.

Journal of Clinical Microbiology, September 2008, p. 3021-3027, Vol. 46, No. 9
0095-1137/08/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/JCM.00689-08
Copyright © 2008, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Lau, A., Sorrell, T. C., Lee, O., Stanley, K., Halliday, C. (2008). Colony Multiplex-Tandem PCR for Rapid, Accurate Identification of Fungal Cultures. J. Clin. Microbiol. 46: 4058-4060 [Abstract] [Full Text]  


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