Abstracto

Correlation of nucleic acid amplification-based detection and conventional methods of identification of Aspergillus flavus species in chronic rhinosinusitis.

Arpeeta Mazumdar, Shukla Das, Rumpa Saha, VG Ramachandran, N Gupta, S Sharma and Sajad Dar

This study is an attempt to establish a comparison between traditional and molecular diagnostic tools to facilitate early diagnosis and management of fungal rhinosinusitis cases. Fungal elements were identified in nasal lavage and polyp samples from patients with chronic rhinosinusitis using KOH, culture and histopathological staining and then subjected to PCR using appropriate primer pairs. A. flavus was the predominant fungal isolate. There was an increase in detection rates using PCR as a diagnostic tool in nasal lavage samples compared to its culture. The same was not true for polyp samples. Thus, PCR was definitely more sensitive in nasal lavage samples for detection of fungal elements. Aspergillus flavus was the most common fungal isolate in CRS cases. PCR on nasal polyp/lavage samples shows promising results as it has the ability to detect even minute amounts of DNA if present in the sample and is rapid. PCR on nasal wash samples has undoubtedly shown better and faster results.