SCA Medium: A New Culture Medium for the Isolation of All Candida auris Clades

Abstract

Candida auris is an emerging multidrug-resistant yeast causing nosocomial infections and associated with high mortality in immunocompromised patients. Rapid identification and characterisation are necessary for diagnosis and containing its spread. In this study, we present a selective culture medium for all C. auris clades. This medium is sensitive with a limit of detection ranging between 101 and 102 CFU/mL. The 100% specificity of SCA (specific C. auris) medium is confirmed on a set of 135 Candida strains, 50 bacterial species and 200 human stool samples. Thus, this medium specifically selects for C. auris isolation from clinical samples, allowing the latter to study its phenotypic profile.

Emergence of Candida auris in intensive care units in Algeria

“…In addition, 100 μl of each sample was cultured on CHROMID® Candida (bioMérieux) and SCA (Specific C. auris ) medium 13 and then incubated at 37°C for 48 h. For microbiological identification, each isolated colony was identified using Matrix‐Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionisation Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI‐TOF‐MS) (Microflex™; Bruker Daltonik, Bremen, Germany) as described by L'Ollivier et al 25 …”

“…Laboratories in developing countries which lack molecular identification techniques fail to identify C. auris, leading to potentially inappropriate treatment. 29 We previously developed a SCA medium for the selective isolation of C. auris yeasts 13 and a RT-PCR system for the specific and rapid detection of this pathogen directly from clinical and environmental samples. 14 namely Egypt, 18 Kenya, 19,20 Nigeria, 21 South Africa 33 and Sudan.…”

“…Diagnosis and treatment of this newly described, multi‐resistant species remains a challenge, especially in developing countries 9,12 . Recently, new molecular and phenotypic techniques to identify C. auris have been developed 13,14 . Despite this, the identification and detection of this yeast still presents difficulties in many countries and research laboratories, especially those using commercial methods that misidentify C. auris , such as VITEK, BD Phoenix, API20C‐AUX, MicroScan and Chromagar Candida culture medium 15 …”

“…9,12 Recently, new molecular and phenotypic techniques to identify C. auris have been developed. 13,14 Despite this, the identification and detection of this yeast still presents difficulties in many countries and research laboratories, especially those using commercial methods that misidentify C. auris, such as VITEK, BD Phoenix, API20C-AUX, MicroScan and Chromagar Candida culture medium. 15 Since its emergence, C. auris has been identified in invasive infections and nosocomial outbreaks reported from various countries across six continents.…”

ClaID: a Rapid Method of Clade-Level Identification of the Multidrug Resistant Human Fungal Pathogen Candida auris

“…At the species level, it can be distinguished from its close relatives by sequencing the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions or specific ORF sequences like GPI-encoding genes or pyruvate: ferredoxin oxidoreductase domain ( 7 – 9 ). Culture-dependent methods of identification include biochemical systems and culture media ( 10 ). Diverse techniques including real-time PCR, loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), T2 magnetic resonance (T2MR), and oligonucleotide-capped nanoporous anodic alumina (NAA) biosensors have been employed for the detection of C. auris isolates ( 7 , 9 , 11 , 12 ).…”