Comparison of Candida ID medium with sabouraud-chloramphenicol agar for the isolation of yeasts from clinical haematology surveillance specimens.
Candida ID is a new chromogenic medium for the identification of yeasts from clinical specimens. C. albicans produces blue pigmentation, whereas pink pigmentation is produced by C. tropicalis, C lusitaniae, C. guilliermondii and C. kefyr; other Candida species appear white. In this study, 240 clinical samples (throat swabs and stool samples) from haematology patients were inoculated on to Candida ID and Sabouraud-chloramphenicol agar in parallel, yielding a total of 105 yeasts; the media had overall detection rates of 85.7% and 86.7% respectively. The sensitivity of Candida ID for identification of C. albicans by blue pigmentation was 52.9% at 24 h and 94.1% at 48 h. Specificity of the blue pigmentation was 100% at 48 h. Two strains of C. tropicalis were identified, one produced pink pigmentation at 72 h, the other strain did not produce any pigmentation after 5 days. Candida ID was superior in detecting mixtures of yeasts compared with Sabouraud-chloramphenicol agar. Candida ID is a suitable primary isolation medium for yeasts from clinical specimens, providing rapid direct identification of C. albicans and enhanced detection of mixtures.
Olver
W J
WJ
Department of Microbiology and Public Health Laboratory, City Hospital, Hucknall Road, Nottingham NG5 1PB.
Stafford
J
J
Department of Microbiology and Public Health Laboratory, City Hospital, Hucknall Road, Nottingham NG5 1PB.
Cheetham
P
P
Department of Microbiology and Public Health Laboratory, City Hospital, Hucknall Road, Nottingham NG5 1PB.
Boswell
T C
TC
Department of Microbiology and Public Health Laboratory, City Hospital, Hucknall Road, Nottingham NG5 1PB.
D000362:Agar; D002701:Chloramphenicol; D002863:Chromogenic Compounds; D003470:Culture Media; D006757:Hospital Units; D006801:Humans; D016533:Mycological Typing Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D009181:Mycoses / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013997:Time Factors; D006113:United Kingdom; D015003:Yeasts / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*
D002863:Chromogenic Compounds; D003470:Culture Media; D002701:Chloramphenicol; D000362:Agar