Research themes and projects at the Centre for Womens Health, Gender and Society
Project title
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) in detection of Candida albicans for confirmation of clinical diagnosis of nipple thrush
Major research theme
Other themes
Investigators
- Dr Lisa Amir, CWHGS, School of Population Health, The University of Melbourne
- Dr Sepehr Tabrizi, Department of Microbiology, The Royal Women’s Hospital
- Dr Mariana Panjaitan, MPH Candidate, The University of Melbourne
Funding
- None
Summary
Common breastfeeding problems include insufficient breast milk and nipple or breast pain. Infection with the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus may lead to mastitis or a breast abscess. Another cause of nipple and breast pain is thought to be infection with the fungal organism Candida albicans (“nipple thrush”). The diagnosis of nipple or breast thrush is usually made from the clinical history and examination. Nipple thrush may be diagnosed when women experience persistent nipple pain (not responding to improved infant attachment at the breast); the pain is usually described as a burning sensation and is often associated with radiating breast pain. The nipple may appear pink and shiny. It has been difficult to isolate Candida albicans by using standard microbiological techniques.
Because of the difficulties of isolating Candida albicans from the site of pathology, we are planning to use a DNA detection technique that is able to detect small numbers of organisms. PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) can be used to identify Candida organisms; theoretically it can detect less than 10 organisms. However, PCR has not been used to detect Candida albicans on the nipple.
The aim of this project is to establish if PCR for detection of Candida albicans is a suitable diagnostic test to confirm nipple thrush in breastfeeding women. A case-control study will be conducted in which the participants will be breastfeeding women attending the Breastfeeding Education and Support Service (BESS) at the Royal Women’s Hospital. Cases will be breastfeeding women with a clinical diagnosis of nipple thrush (n=20) and controls will be breastfeeding women without nipple pain (n=20). This is a Phase 1 question for a new diagnostic test: Do patients with the target disorder have different test results from normal individuals?
Data collection is complete and analysis underway.