Systemic candidiasis is a frequent opportunistic mycosis that can be life-threatening. Its main etiological agent is Candida albicans; however, the isolation of non-albicans Candida species has been increasing. Some of these species exhibit greater resistance to antifungals, so the rapid and specific identification of yeasts is crucial for a timely diagnosis and optimal treatment of patients. Multiple molecular assays have been developed, based mainly on polymerase chain reaction (PCR), showing high specificity and sensitivity to detect and identify Candida spp. Nevertheless, its application in diagnosis has been limited due to specialized infrastructure or methodological complexity. The objective of this study was to develop a PCR assay that detects and identifies some of the most common pathogenic Candida species and evaluate their diagnostic utility in blood samples and bronchial lavage. A pair of oligonucleotides was designed, CandF and CandR, based on sequence analysis of the 18S-ITS1-5.8S-ITS2-28S region of the rDNA of Candida spp., deposited in GenBank. The designed oligonucleotides identified C. albicans, C. glabrata, C. tropicalis, C. parapsilosis, C. krusei/Pichia kudriazevii, C. guilliermondii/Meyerozyma guilliermondii, C. lusitaniae/Clavispora lusitaniae, and C. dubliniensis using simplex PCR based on the amplicon size, showing a detection limit of 10 pg/μL of DNA or 10³ yeasts/mL. Based on cultures as the gold standard, it was determined that the sensitivity (73.9%), specificity (96.3%), and the positive (94.4%) and negative (81.2%) predictive values of the PCR assay with the designed oligonucleotides justify their reliable use in diagnosis.

Candida auris possesses distinctive features that facilitate its persistence and transmission in healthcare settings, causing outbreaks of infection that are difficult to treat. So, emphasis has been placed on implementing measures for controlling, eliminating, and preventing fungal transmission, such as environmental disinfection and patient decolonization. This review aimed to understand and analyze the agents for environmental disinfection and patient decolonization reported in the last 5 years. The PubMed database was reviewed, using the terms “Candida auris”, “disinfection”, and “decolonization”. Only original papers, published between 2020–2025, in English or Spanish, that included relevant information on the topic, were selected. After the selection process, 52 articles were chosen to analyze the agents for environmental disinfection and decolonization of C. auris. Natural and synthetic disinfectants and ultraviolet radiation were reported for the environmental disinfection, with variable efficacy, depending on factors such as concentration and exposure time. Natural and synthetic antiseptics were also reported for decolonization, with varying efficacy. For example, 2% chlorhexidine shows a 0.5 log reduction, while at concentrations >10% it is >4 log. However, most have only been tested in animal models. Based on the review, Far-UV-C radiation (222 nm) is safe and appropriate to mitigate (up to 1 log reduction) the spread of C. auris in the hospital setting. However, it is important to consider that the cost and limited availability of the device present a barrier to its implementation. Patient decolonization is still challenging nowadays due to the absence of agents with proven high efficacy in humans.

Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is an opportunistic mycosis that affects women of reproductive age. The most frequent etiological agent is Candida albicans. The development of VVC depends on factors related to the host and the fungus. Among the factors related to Candida spp. are virulence factors, but genotype may also be involved. The objective of this study was to evaluate the ABC genotypes and extracellular hydrolytic enzyme production in C. albicans isolates obtained from Mexican women with vulvovaginitis to determine if there is a correlation between these characteristics that allows the fungus to invade and cause damage to the host. Forty-three yeast isolates were obtained from vaginal exudates from women with symptoms of infection. The isolates were identified by germ tube tests and by Cand PCR. The ABC genotype of the isolates identified as C. albicans was determined through the isolates’ DNA amplification using the oligonucleotides CA-INT-R and CA-INT-L. The activity of esterase, phospholipase, proteinase, and hemolysin was evaluated in specific culture media. The correlation between extracellular enzyme production and genotype was analyzed using a two-way ANOVA and the Sidak comparison test. A total of 57.5% of the yeast isolates were identified as C. albicans. The genotypes identified were A (82.6%) and B (17.4%). The activity of esterase, phospholipase, proteinase, and hemolysin was very strong. No statistically significant difference was found between enzyme production and genotypes. In conclusion, genotype A predominates among C. albicans vaginal isolates. The production of extracellular hydrolytic enzymes was widely expressed in C. albicans vaginal isolates, but no correlation with genotype was found.

Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) can lead to multiple complications when it occurs during pregnancy, so it is necessary to diagnose it promptly for effective treatment. Traditional methods for identifying Candida spp. are often too time-consuming and have limited specificity and sensitivity. In this work, we evaluated the diagnostic utility of an endpoint PCR assay (Cand PCR) in vaginal swab specimens. Using a cotton swab, 108 vaginal swab samples were taken from pregnant women who consented to participate in the study. The samples were inoculated in Sabouraud agar plates (the gold standard) and subsequently used to extract DNA directly from the exudate. The yeasts isolated from the Sabouraud agar were identified in CHROMagar™ Candida. DNA extracted from vaginal swabs was amplified by Cand PCR. Based on the results of the Cand PCR and the gold standard, sensitivity (S), specificity (E), positive predictive values (PPVs), and negative predictive values (NPVs) were determined. Cand PCR presented an S = 65%, E = 100%, PPV = 100% and NPV = 91%. Cand PCR showed low sensitivity for detecting Candida spp. directly from vaginal swabs, but it was useful for identifying the etiologic agent and reducing the time to obtain the result, which is usually at least 48 h.