ARENDRUP M, STENNERUP J, ANDERSEN LP; Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy.

Abstr Intersci Conf Antimicrob Agents Chemother Intersci Conf Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1999 Sep 26-29; 39: 541 (abstract no. 145).

Dept. of Clin. Microbiol, Statens Seruminstitut, Copenhagen, DENMARK

BACKGROUND: Most C. albicans isolates are sensitive to fluconazole in contrast to many non-albicans isolates. Identification and susceptibility testing of fungi is slow and cumbersome. Thus rapid discrimination between C. albicans and non-albicans isolates is necessary to identify C. albicans infections which can be treated with fluconazole.METHODS: Five tests to discriminate between C. albicans and non-albicans isolates were investigated: CHROMagar Candida differential plates, AlbicansID differential plates, germ tube test using pooled human serum, germ tube test using citrate stabilised horse plasma and formation of chlamydoconidia when grown on Dalmau plates. For subsequent identification API 20 C and a standard method using assimilation and fermentation reactions was used.RESULTS: The capability of the five tests to differentiate between C. albicans and non-albicans varied. Within 48 hours, both differential media identified 97 of the 99 C. albicans isolates and none of the 11 non-albicans isolates were identified as C. albicans. The germ tube test using human serum as growth medium also detected 97 of the 99 C. albicans isolates, while the germ tube test using citrate stabilised horse plasma detected 94 of the 99 C. albicans isolates when evaluated after 21/2 hours of incubation but 98 of the 99 C. albicans isolates when evaluated after 18 hours. Independently of which growth medium and of incubation time of germ tube test using citrate stabilised horse plasma 10 of 11 non-albicans isolates were correctly identified. All 99 C. albicans isolates, but only 9 of the 11 non-albicans isolates were correctly identified when examined for formation of chlamydoconidia after 24 hours incubation.CONCLUSION: Growth on two differential media (CHROMagar Candida and albicans ID) were the methods with highest specificity. The quicker and much less expensive germ tube test also performed well, but polyfungal infections may be missed.

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• Animals
• Antigens, Fungal
• Candida
• Candida albicans
• Candidiasis
• Chromosomes
• Culture Media
• Equidae
• Fluconazole
• Horses
• Humans
• Laboratories
• Sensitivity and Specificity
• Spores, Fungal
• genetics
• immunology
• instrumentation
• methods

Other ID:

• GWAIDS0009308

UI: 102246806

From Meeting Abstracts