Use of Chromogenic Agar for Identification of Candida Species from Blood Samples in a Tertiary Care Hospital of North India

Candida species have emerged as the most opportunistic pathogens to cause blood stream infections. To explore the usefulness of Chromogenic medium in speciating clinical isolates of Candida and to determine their antifungal susceptibility. A total of 80 Candida species were isolated from blood sample. Speciation of Candida was done based on the growth on Chromogenic medium and other methods like formation of Germ Tube Test. Among the 80 clinical Candida isolates, only 25% of the Candida isolates were identified as Candida albicans and the rest were non albicans Candida species. 22.5% Candida parapsilosis (18/80), 25% Candida krusei (20/80), 27.5% Candida tropicalis (22/80). Among the non albicans species Candida tropicalis was the commonest isolate followed by C.krusei and C. parapsilosis. CHROM Agar can be used for rapid identification of most commonly isolated Candida species from blood samples. This will be useful to initiate appropriate antifungal therapy thereby reducing morbidity and mortality.