First evaluation of ThermoSscientific Brilliance Candida 2 Agar for presumptive Candidozyma auris identification and comparison with CHROMagar Candida Plus
European Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Kısa Makale
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.1007/s10096-026-05667-2
- Dergi Adı: European Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, EMBASE, Environment Index, MEDLINE, Public Affairs Index, Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCO), Natural Science Collection (ProQuest), Biological Science Database (ProQuest), Biomedical Reference Collection: Corporate Edition (EBSCO), Health Research Premium Collection (ProQuest), Pharma Collection (ProQuest)
- Anahtar Kelimeler: Brilliance Candida 2 Agar, Candida parapsilosis, Candidozyma auris, CHROMagar Candida Plus
- İstanbul Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Candidozyma auris (formerly Candida auris) is an emerging multidrug-resistant Candida species associated with high mortality, highlighting the need for rapid laboratory recognition. Although there are many chromogenic media for Candida species, CHROMagar Candida Plus is the only widely used option that reliably differentiates C. auris alongside other Candida spp. However, phenotypic overlap with other yeasts has been reported, particularly with Candida parapsilosis. The objective of this study was to evaluate Thermo Scientific Brilliance Candida 2 Agar, a newly introduced chromogenic medium, for presumptive identification of C. auris and other clinically relevant yeasts, in comparison with CHROMagar Candida Plus. A total of 85 isolates identified using MALDI-TOF MS were tested, including C. auris (n = 23; all Clade I), C. parapsilosis (n = 21), Nakaseomyces glabratus (formerly Candida glabrata) (n = 18), and other clinically relevant species by inoculation onto both media and incubation at 35-37 °C with readings at 24, 36, and 48 h. On Brilliance Candida 2 Agar, all C. auris strains became recognizable at 36 h and were clearly distinctive at 48 h, consisting of pink colonies with a paler peripheral rim and a sharp surrounding clearing zone. None of the non-auris Candida isolates tested showed the same combination of features. On CHROMagar Candida Plus, all C. auris strains displayed a blue halo. However, some C. parapsilosis isolates (3/21, 14.3%) showed a similar appearance, causing potential misidentification. These preliminary findings suggest that Brilliance Candida 2 Agar may be useful for the presumptive differentiation of cultured C. auris from non-auris yeasts, although it provided limited differentiation among other Candida species. Larger studies including additional C. auris clades and direct clinical specimens are needed to validate these findings.