[Usefulness of the CHROM-agar Candida culture medium in the differentiation and presumed identification of yeast of clinical interest].
BACKGROUND
The efficiency of a novel differential culture medium, CHROM-agar Candida, is evaluated in order to differentiation and presumptive identification of clinically important yeasts.


METHODS
We studied 600 clinical yeast strains, pertaining to 8 genera (Candida, Cryptococcus, Geotrichum, Rhodotorula, Trichosporon, Kluyveromyces, Pichia and Saccharomyces) and 27 species. Strains were previously identified by conventional methods and by commercial system ATB ID32C (Bio-Mérieux).


RESULTS
Four species (C. albicans, C. krusei, C. tropicalis and t. beigelii) were presumptive recognized after 48-72 hours of incubation, regarding their colonial morphology and color. Colony color of other species showed low specificity.


CONCLUSIONS
CHROM-agar Candida medium is recommended for recognition of mixed yeast cultures and differentiation of the common clinically yeast species.
García-Martos
P
P
Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital Universitario Puerta del Mar, Cádiz.
Mira-Gutiérrez
J
J
Galán-Sánchez
F
F
Hernández-Molina
J M
JM
D002175:Candida / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003470:Culture Media; D008828:Microbiological Techniques; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015003:Yeasts / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*
D003470:Culture Media
Utilidad del medio de cultivo CHROM-agar Candida para la diferenciación e identificación presuntiva de levaduras de interés clínico.