ABSTRACT
This study investigated the distribution of yeast species in 175 clinical specimens of patients admitted to the Jordan University Hospital during 1996. The clinical specimens were first cultured on Sabouraud dextrose agar plates and then subcultured onto CHROMagar plates. For comparison, CHROMagar Candida medium, microbiochemical tests [Fungichrom] and a germ tube test were used for identification of the clinical isolates. CHROMagar Candida identified accurately 158/182 [87%] of the isolated yeast species and detected the presence of five [2.7%] mixed yeast cultures. Also, CHROMagar correctly identified 100% of C. albicans, 100% of C. krusei, 97% of C. tropicalis and 58% of C. glabrata isolates, respectively. The distribution of 9 yeast species in clinical specimens was in percentage as follows: C. albicans [58.3], C. tropicalis [18.7], C. glabrata [11.5], C. krusei [3.8], Trichosporon beigelti [2.7], C. rugosa [1.1], C. parasilosis [1.1], Geotrichum candidum [1.1], and C. kefyr [0.5] and mixed species [2.7]. In conclusion, CHROMagar Candida medium can rapidly and accurately detect and identify the most commonly encountered clinical yeast species within 24 - 48 hours and the presence of mixed yeast cultures