Identification of <em>Candida</em> species isolated from cancer patients by Polymerase Chain Reaction – Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism in Apeksha Hospital, Maharagama, Sri Lanka

Candida infections pose a significant challenge in managing cancer patients. A rapid and effective method for Candida species identification is crucial to address this issue. This study at Apeksha Hospital, Maharagama, aimed to identify Candida species using Polymerase Chain Reaction – Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism. ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 rDNA regions of 52 clinical Candida isolates and standard strains were amplified using ITS1 and ITS4 primers and digested with MspI enzyme. Candida tropicalis (38%), Candida parapsilosis (31%), Candida albicans (13%), Candida glabrata (8%), Candida krusei (4%), Candida haemulonii (4%), and Candida intermedia (2%) were identified. PCRRFLP proves to be a rapid, and reliable method for identifying medically important Candida species in cancer patients.