In recent years, due to the increase in incidence of infections with non-albicans Candida isolates and the development of resistance to azole-group antifungals, the identification of Candida strains to species level gained significant importance. The purpose of the present study was to identify Candida isolates to species level.

From January through October 2005, 95 Candida strains were isolated from various clinical specimens. The distribution of 95 Candida strains were as follows; 39 from urine, 33 from sputum, nine from blood, seven from vaginal swabs, two from each; bronchoalveolar lavage, tracheal aspirate, pleura and one from dreinage material. For species identification of Candida strains API ID 32C (Bio Merieux, France) system and morphologic appearance on Tween 80 corn-meal agar and germ tube test was used. The species of Candida strains was as follows; 70 C. albicans (73.68%), seven C. tropicalis (7.36%), four C. pelliculosa (4.21%), three C. intermedia (3.2%), two C. parapisilosis (2.1%), two C. kefry (2.1%), two C. famata (2.1%). Other strains were identified as C. krusei, C. glabrata, C. dubliniensis, C. sake and C. lusitaniae.