Evaluation of a reformulated CHROMagar Candida

CHROMagar Candida is a differential culture medium for the isolation and pr esumptive identification of clinically important yeasts, Recently the mediu m was reformulated by Becton Dickinson. This study was designed to evaluate the performance of the new formula of CHROMagar against the original CHROM agar Candida for recovery, growth, and colony color with stock cultures and with direct plating of clinical specimens. A total of 90 stock yeast isola tes representing nine yeast species, including Candida dubliniensis, as wel l as 522 clinical specimens were included in this study. No major differenc es were noted in growth rate or colony size between the two media for must of the species, However, all 10 Candida albicans isolates evaluated consist ently gave a lighter shade of green on the new CHROMagar formulation. In co ntrast, all 26 C, dubliniensis isolates gave the same typical dark; green c olor on both media. A total of 173 of the 522 clinical specimens were posit ive for yeast, with eight yeast species recovered. The recovery rates for e ach species were equivalent on both media, with no consistent species-assoc iated differences in colony size or color. Although bath media were compara ble in performance, the lighter green colonies of C albicans isolates on th e new CHROMagar made it easier to differentiate between C, albicans and C. dubliniensis isolates, In conclusion, the newly formulated Becton Dickinson CHROMager Candida medium is as equally suited as a differential medium for the presumptive identification of yeast species and for the detection of m ultiple yeast species in clinical specimens as the original CHROMagar Candi da medium.