EFFECTIVENESS OF CHROM AGAR CANDIDA, A DIFFERENTIAL ISOLATION MEDIUM FOR RAPID IDENTIFICATION OF CLINICALLY IMPORTANT CANDIDA SPECIES

CHROM agar Candida is a differential culture medium that is claimed to facilitate the isolation and rapid identification of some clinically important yeast species. A total of 100 yeast isolates were included in this study. All isolates were identified by inoculation on CHROM agar and compared to the results of Sabouraud's dextrose agar inoculation. Out of 100 isolates, 29 produced green colonies of Candida albicans, 65 non-albicans Candida were 36 produced blue colonies of C. tropicalis, 13 produced rose pink colonies of C. krusei, 9 produced off white to pale pink colony of C. parapsilosis, 7 produced purple colony of C. gulliermondii and 6 were C. glabrata with pink colonies. The use of chromogenic medium Candida agar is an easy and reliable method for the rapid identification of most commonly isolated Candida species, with typical color shown by Candida species, in less time and early identification of inherent azole resistant species of Candida which require early antifungal therapy.