ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Fungi are found in normal flora in various amounts. However, fungi in chronic sinusitis are poorly understood, and it is not clearly defined whether it is a pathogen or simply a part of normal flora. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is proposed as a more reliable test to detect fungal DNA than the conventional culture technique. The aim of this study was to compare the sensitivity of conventional culture technique and PCR analysis in detecting fungus of the nasal cavity and to compare fungal species found in normal controls and patients with chronic sinusitis. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Sterile saline irrigation was performed and then mucin filled saline was collected from the nasal cavity of patients with chronic sinusitis and normal controls. Fungus culture and PCR analysis were carried out with irrigated saline. RESULTS: PCR for panfungal gene was positive in 92.5% and 97.5% while fungus cultures were positive in 23.3% and 30.5% of patients with chronic sinusitis and normal controls, respectively. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of fungus and species of fungus between patients with chronic sinusitis and normal controls. CONCLUSION: PCR for panfungal gene was more sensitive for fungus detection than fungus culture in patients with chronic sinusitis and normal controls. Presence of fungus alone was insufficient to implicate it as the pathogen of chronic sinusitis. It will be necessary to study further about fungal species in patients with chronic sinusitis and normal controls.