PCR-based identification and strain typing of Pichia anomala using the ribosomal intergenic spacer region IGS1.

Frequent outbreaks of Pichia anomala fungaemia in paediatric patients have warranted the development of a rapid identification system for this organism. This study describes a specific PCR-based method targeting the rRNA gene intergenic spacer region 1 (IGS1) for rapid identification of Pichia anomala isolates and characterization at the strain level. These methods of species identification and strain typing were used on 106 isolates of Pichia anomala (77 from a previously described outbreak and 29 isolated post-outbreak from the same hospital).

Comparison of ITS and IGS1 regions for strain typing of clinical and non-clinical isolates of Pichia anomala.

Pichia anomala is an emerging nosocomial pathogen and there is a need for methods that distinguish between different P. anomala strains. In the typing of several clinical as well as non-clinical P.