ABSTRACT
The last decade has seen the sustained medical importance of opportunistic infections due to different Candida species mainly because of the worldwide increasing in the number of immunocompromised patients, who are highly susceptible to opportunistic infections. Urine samples were collected from 106 cancer patients in South Egypt Cancer Institute [SECI] that were cultured on Sabouraud dextrose agar media for isolation of Candida species. After Gram staining subculture was done on Hicrome Candida Differential Agar media. Results of the previous media were compared with those obtained with API 20C AUX yeast identification kits. The study revealed an overall isolation rate of Candida species among urinary tract infections was 20.8% [22/106]. Single type of Candida species was isolated from cancer patients with candiduria 16/22 [72.7%] while six patients had mixed species. Candida albicans was the most frequent species isolated responsible for fungal urinary tract infections 27.3% [6/22]. Non-Candida albicans species including Candida tropicalis [13.6%], Candida glabrata [13.6%], Candida stellatoides [9.1%], Candida krusei [4.5%] and Candida guilliermondii [4.5%] were also isolated. Candida albicans, Candida stellatoides and Candida guilliermondii could not be identified on chrom agar as all the isolates gave similar green colonies. Also Candida glabrata and Candida krusei could not be identified on chrom agar as they gave similar white colonies. Chrom agar identifies all Candida tropicalis as the isolates gave the typical pattern of purple to blue colonies. Candida albicans identified on Czapek Dox Agar media as they produced chlamydospores. The results of API 20C AUX were in 100% agreement with the results of Chrom agar in identification of Candida tropicalis. E-test on [SDA] was found to be an accurate method for antifungal susceptibility as it was compared with the reference broth microdilution method recommended by National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards [NCCLs]. For fluconazole the E-test demonstrated 94.1% agreement for all candida species