Vision

To be a local center of excellence in Medical Mycology in collaboration with other stakeholders of clinical care, research and education of health care professionals.

Mission

To improve the health of Sri Lankans while contributing to the development of field of Medical Mycology.

Introduction

The Department of Mycology at MRI functions as the only diagnostic, research and reference laboratory in the country for Medical Mycology. In addition to above activities the Department functions as the main training centre for PGIM, Medical undergraduates, MLTT training schools and MLS degrees of several universities in Mycology.
“Medical Mycology” is not a new entity in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka being a tropical country, fungal infections were common for many years. But now the trend has taken a different pathway as the demographic factors have changed. With the surge of patients with chronic kidney disease, solid organ transplantation, bone-marrow transplantation, cancer patients on chemotherapy, uncontrolled diabetes patients, patients who are on broad spectrum antibiotics for long durations, patients who are on prosthetic devices etc. has increased the number of patients with fungal infections enormously.
The recent introduction of new diagnostic tests and treatment modalities for patients with cryptococcal meningitis, invasive aspergillosis, severe asthma with fungal sensitization, allergic broncho-pulmonary aspergillosis, fungal sinusitis, invasive fungal sinusitis, pulmonary mycetoma, Aspergilloma etc. to Sri Lanka has increased the work load immensely.

The first & only National Pathogenic Fungal Culture Collection was established at MRI in 2013, to upgrade the quality and quantity of medical mycology research in the country. This paved the way for many new research activities & publications which helped in patient management.
From January 2023, Antimicrobial resistance surveillance for Candida blood stream infections in Sri Lanka was started, as a part of Global Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System (GLASS) in collaboration with World Health Organization. Department of Mycology is identified as the focal point for data collection and laboratory testing.
Increased awareness about fungal infections among both immunocompromised and immunocompetent individuals has contributed an enormous surge of specimens sent to diagnose fungal infections.
Apart from all facts written above, recent COVID 19 epidemic created a new patient population who are infected with many fungal infections such as mucormycosis, aspergillus pneumonia and Candida blood stream infections. Apart from their existing immunocompromised conditions, COVID 19 further decreased their immunity levels which further enhanced the spread of these fungal infections resulting disastrous outcomes.
Therefore, it is of high importance that these infections have to be diagnosed at very early stages. To fulfill that task many test methods are available, such as fungal cultures, serology and molecular diagnostic methods.

Opening hours
Monday to Friday – 8.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.
Saturday – 8.00 a.m. to 12.00 noon
Sunday and Public Holidays – 8.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m.

Location
Second floor, Room 333

Contact details
0112 693532, 0112 693533, 0112 693534 Extension 333

Specimen reception
Samples will be received at the main specimen reception counter 24/7