Evaluation of a novel chromogenic medium for Candida spp. identification and comparison with CHROMagar™ Candida for the detection of Candida auris in surveillance samples

Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis. 2020 Dec;98(4):115168. doi: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2020.115168. Epub 2020 Aug 16.

Abstract

A shift to Candida non-albicans infections has been noted during the last years, and the emergence of multi-resistant Candida auris has complicated their management. The aim of this study was first to compare the performance of the novel chromogenic medium CHROMagar™ Candida Plus (CHROMagar, France) with CHROMagar™ Candida (Becton Dickinson, Germany) for the presumptive identification of Candida species; and then, to evaluate its utility in the detection of C. auris in surveillance samples. CHROMagar™ Candida Plus showed a good performance compared with the reference medium CHROMagar™ Candida. Sensitivity and specificity were 100% in both media for tested species at 48 h of incubation, except for Candida glabrata and Candida lusitaniae. Furthermore, the new medium allows a reliable presumptive identification of C. auris, as a new specific color for this species is assigned (light blue with a blue halo), obtaining a sensitivity and specificity of 100% at 36 h of incubation.

Keywords: Candida auris; Chromogenic; Multidrug resistant; Outbreak; Yeasts.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Candida / classification
  • Candida / isolation & purification*
  • Candidiasis / diagnosis*
  • Candidiasis / microbiology
  • Chromogenic Compounds
  • Culture Media
  • Humans
  • Mycological Typing Techniques / instrumentation
  • Mycological Typing Techniques / methods*
  • Sensitivity and Specificity

Substances

  • Chromogenic Compounds
  • Culture Media