ISOLATION OF PROMINENT OPPORTUNISTIC YEASTS, CANDIDA SPP., FROM COIN-OPERATED WASHING MACHINES

Abstract

Coin-operated washing machines are convenient household appliances that are widely used in Thailand. The environment in these devices is suitable for fungal colonization. As a result, they may be a potential risk for yeast infection, particularly opportunistic yeasts such as Candida spp. Thus, the aim of this study was to isolate Candida spp. from thirty coin-operated top load washing machines installed at dormitories near Bansomdejchaopraya Rajabhat University, Bangkok, Thailand. Sterile cotton swabs were used to collect samples from four sites of each device including washing powder drawers, fabric softener drawers, tubs, and lint filters. Samples were inoculated on a surface of Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA) supplemented with 0.05 g/L chloramphenicol. Polymerase chain reaction – restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) of ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 regions and MspI as a restriction enzyme were used for Candida spp. identification. We identified several species of Candida spp. including Candida parapsilosis complex, Candida glabrata, Candida tropicalis, Candida haemulonii complex, Candida albicans complex, Candida lusitaniae, and Candida guilliermondii by using PCR-RFLP. This investigation showed that coin-operated washing machines were contaminated with important opportunistic yeasts of Candida spp. Therefore, these devices should be maintained and cleaned regularly.