Application of chromagar candida for identification of clinically important candida species and their antifungal susceptibility pattern

Abstract

Background and objectives: CHROMagar Candida is a novel, differential culture medium that is claimed to facilitate the isolation and presumptive identification of some clinically important Candida species. Rapid identification of yeast infections is helpful in prompt appropriate antifungal therapy. Chromogenic medium was also helpful in identifying “multi-species� candida infections. This study evaluated the usefulness of chromogenic medium, corn-meal agar morphology and Vitek 2 compact. Material and Methods: A total of 100 non duplicate Candida species were isolated from various clinical specimens including blood, urine, sputum, bronchial aspirate, tracheal aspiration and other specimens. Speciation of Candida was done by using chromogenic agar medium, Vitek 2 system and corn-meal agar morphology. Antifungal susceptibility testing was performed for all the isolates by automated Vitek 2 system. Results: The results of this study shows that Non-Candida albicans (NAC) predominated over Candida albicans. CHROMagar Candida can easily identify five species of Candida on the basis of colonial color and morphology and accurately differentiate between them i.e. C.albicans, C. tropicalis, C. krusei and C. glabrata. The medium was unable to provide presumptive identification of C. pelliculosa, C. lipolytica, C. lustinae, C. famata and C. hemulonii. Vitek 2 compact (V2C) differentiated all pseudohyphae non-producing species. Non-Candida albicans (NAC) showed higher resistant to Fluconazole. Conclusion: CHROMagar Candida has been useful and capable of presumptive, rapid identification of clinically important Candida species. This capability will help clinicians to choose appropriate antifungal agent.