Speciation of Candida Species Isolated From Clinical Specimens by Using Chrom Agar and Conventional Methods

Candida spp especially non albicans Candida are increasingly being isolated from clinical specimens. The conventional methods of identification are time consuming and difficult to perform. The study was done to evaluate the performance of conventional identification method (phenotypic and biochemical) and commercially available chromogenic Candida speciation media (CHROM agar) for the identification of medically important yeast and yeast-like organisms in a routine clinical microbiology laboratory. A total of 60 yeast strains were included during the one and half years study period. The conventional methods used for speciation of yeast isolates were germ tube test, chlamydospore formation test on corn meal agar, sugar fermentation test and sugar assimilation test and were compared against chromogenic agar medium (CHROM agar). Candida albicans (51.6%) was the most common Candida species, followed by C. tropicalis (25%), C. krusei (16.6%) and C. glabrata (6.6%). Agreement between the conventional method and chromogenic methods was 96% for C. albicans, 100% for C. tropicalis, 100% for C. krusei and 100% C. glabrata. C. albicans was the most common single species isolated. However, species other than C. albicans are gaining clinical significance (48% of all isolates in the present study). CHROM agar is a convenient and rapid method of identification of Candida species even in resource poor settings.