Identification of Candida species using CHROM agar.

Background: Candida is the part of normal microbial flora of human body that potentially causes disease in the immune compromised host. Though C. albicans is regarded as most virulent species, non- albicans Candida are increasingly being reported in clinical samples which warrant their accurate identification that helps in directing the effective use of antifungal agents. Methods: The study was done in clinical isolates of Candida species obtained at clinical laboratory, Nobel Hospital, Kathmandu from the period of May 2014 to April 2015. Phenotypic characterization was based on the observation of growth characteristic on Sabouraud’s Dextrose Agar, Grams’ staining, germ tube formation and characteristics appearance in CHROMagar. Results: A total of 51 isolates were identified as Candida species. C. albicans (64.7%) predominated non albicans Candida (35.3%). The majority of non albicans Candida were C. tropicalis. Germ tube formation test was positive for all C. albicans which produced light green color in CHROM agar. Conclusion: CHROM agar can be routinely used to identify different Candida species from clinical samples.