Cost-effectiveness and efficacy of CHROMagar™ Candida medium in clinical specimens

Abstract

CHROMagar™ Candida is a new medium for the differential isolation and identification of certain clinically important Candida species. This study evaluated the cost-effectiveness of this medium compared with conventional methods. Thirty reference strains, 158 clinical specimens and 105 stock cultures were investigated. Specimens were cultured on CHROMagar™ Candida medium and on Sabouraud chloramphenicol agar. Identification was by conventional methods on Sabouraud agar and appearance of colonies on CHROMagar™ Candida medium. CHROMagar™ Candida correctly identified isolates of C. albicans, C. tropicalis and C. krusei. It was superior in detecting mixed cultures. A comparison of time and cost was carried out. CHROMagar™ Candida provides a simple, accurate and cost-effective method for identifying some clinically important Candida species.