Candida Speciation Using Chrom Agar 755-757
Correspondence
Dr. D.Vijaya
130, IInd main road Email-vijayadanand@rediffmail.com
Sheshadripurum, Bangalore 560020, Karnataka.
Phone: 080-23446667; 9482009120
Introduction: CHROM agar for speciation of Candida is a differential culture medium which facilitates the isolation and identification of some clinically important species.
Materials and Methods: A total of 102 Candida species were isolated from various clinical specimens (100) including stool, sputum, nasal, oral, ear swabs, diabetic foot, skin and nail scrapings. Speciation of Candida was done using CHROM agar and conventional method simultaneously.
Observations: Non albicans candida (NAC) predominated (54.1%) over Candida albicans (45.9%). Non albicans candida spp isolated were C.tropicalis (35.29%), C.krusei (10.78%), C.parapsilosis (7.84%), and C. dubliniensis (0.9%). Antifungal susceptibility testing was done using antimycotic sensitivity testing by disc diffusion method. Isolates were 100% sensitive toketoconazole, clotrimazole, nystatin and amphotericin B. 87.5% of C.krusei, 36% C.tropicalis, 6.25% ,C. albicans were resistant to itraconazole. 25% C.krusei and 8% C.tropicalis were resistant of fluconazole. C.dubliniensis was resistant to itraconozole only.
Conclusion:The advantage of using CHROM agar is that it facilitates the isolation and identification of Candida to species level. The performance of CHROM agar exactly paralleled that of conventional methods. Use of this medium is rapid, technically simple and cost effective compared to time consuming technically demanding expensive conventional method.
CHRO Magar serves as a primary isolation and differentiation medium for clinical specimens that could allow mycology laboratories to rapidly identify Candida spp, enabling clinicians to choose appropriate antifungal agents,thus decreasing patients morbidity and mortality.