An Epidemiologic Analysis of Vulvovaginal Candidiasis and Antifungal Susceptibilities

Abstract. Inflammation of the vagina and vulva caused by Candida is called vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC). Risk factors for VVC include pregnancy, diabetes mellitus, frequent oral sexual intercourse, and the use of tight synthetic underwear and systemic antibiotics. Candida albicans, which belongs t...

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Main Authors: Fadile Gaye Hösükoğlu, Fahriye Ekşi, Mehmet Erinmez, Mete Gürol Uğur
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Health 2022-09-01
Series:Infectious Microbes & Diseases
Online Access:http://journals.lww.com/10.1097/IM9.0000000000000095
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author Fadile Gaye Hösükoğlu
Fahriye Ekşi
Mehmet Erinmez
Mete Gürol Uğur
author_facet Fadile Gaye Hösükoğlu
Fahriye Ekşi
Mehmet Erinmez
Mete Gürol Uğur
author_sort Fadile Gaye Hösükoğlu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract. Inflammation of the vagina and vulva caused by Candida is called vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC). Risk factors for VVC include pregnancy, diabetes mellitus, frequent oral sexual intercourse, and the use of tight synthetic underwear and systemic antibiotics. Candida albicans, which belongs to the normal flora of the vagina, is the most common cause of VVC. However, an increase in VVC episodes caused by non-albicans Candida species, including Candida glabrata, Candida tropicalis, Candida krusei and Candida parapsilosis, has been reported. In this study, a total of 100 Candida isolates obtained from patients with vaginitis symptoms were evaluated. The susceptibility of the Candida strains to amphotericin B, itraconazole, fluconazole, ketoconazole, voriconazole and caspofungin was investigated using the reference broth microdilution method. Risk factors and demographic characteristics of the patients and the identified Candida species were also investigated. Among the 100 Candida strains isolated from vaginal samples, 47 (47%) were C. albicans, 43 (43%) C. glabrata, 5 (5%) C. kefyr, 2 (2%) C. krusei, 2 (2%) C. tropicalis and 1 (1%) was Candida guilliermondii. The incidences of Candida susceptibility to caspofungin, fluconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole, ketoconazole and amphotericin B were 75%, 35%, 27%, 80%, 97% and 100%, respectively. Also, there was a significant difference in antifungal susceptibility among patients belonging to certain risk groups, such as patients previously using antibiotics and recurrent cases. Prevalence of non-albicans Candida species and antifungal resistance, especially against azoles, are both increasing, and certain risk factors should be monitored strictly.
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spelling doaj.art-0db6148748ff449aa0f03801a8a6236a2022-12-22T03:23:42ZengWolters Kluwer HealthInfectious Microbes & Diseases2641-59172022-09-014313113610.1097/IM9.0000000000000095202209000-00008An Epidemiologic Analysis of Vulvovaginal Candidiasis and Antifungal SusceptibilitiesFadile Gaye Hösükoğlu0Fahriye Ekşi1Mehmet Erinmez2Mete Gürol Uğur3Author affiliations: 1 Department of Medical Microbiology, Gaziantep University School of Medicine, Gaziantep, TurkeyAuthor affiliations: 1 Department of Medical Microbiology, Gaziantep University School of Medicine, Gaziantep, TurkeyAuthor affiliations: 1 Department of Medical Microbiology, Gaziantep University School of Medicine, Gaziantep, Turkey2 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gaziantep University School of Medicine, Gaziantep, Turkey.Abstract. Inflammation of the vagina and vulva caused by Candida is called vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC). Risk factors for VVC include pregnancy, diabetes mellitus, frequent oral sexual intercourse, and the use of tight synthetic underwear and systemic antibiotics. Candida albicans, which belongs to the normal flora of the vagina, is the most common cause of VVC. However, an increase in VVC episodes caused by non-albicans Candida species, including Candida glabrata, Candida tropicalis, Candida krusei and Candida parapsilosis, has been reported. In this study, a total of 100 Candida isolates obtained from patients with vaginitis symptoms were evaluated. The susceptibility of the Candida strains to amphotericin B, itraconazole, fluconazole, ketoconazole, voriconazole and caspofungin was investigated using the reference broth microdilution method. Risk factors and demographic characteristics of the patients and the identified Candida species were also investigated. Among the 100 Candida strains isolated from vaginal samples, 47 (47%) were C. albicans, 43 (43%) C. glabrata, 5 (5%) C. kefyr, 2 (2%) C. krusei, 2 (2%) C. tropicalis and 1 (1%) was Candida guilliermondii. The incidences of Candida susceptibility to caspofungin, fluconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole, ketoconazole and amphotericin B were 75%, 35%, 27%, 80%, 97% and 100%, respectively. Also, there was a significant difference in antifungal susceptibility among patients belonging to certain risk groups, such as patients previously using antibiotics and recurrent cases. Prevalence of non-albicans Candida species and antifungal resistance, especially against azoles, are both increasing, and certain risk factors should be monitored strictly.http://journals.lww.com/10.1097/IM9.0000000000000095
spellingShingle Fadile Gaye Hösükoğlu
Fahriye Ekşi
Mehmet Erinmez
Mete Gürol Uğur
An Epidemiologic Analysis of Vulvovaginal Candidiasis and Antifungal Susceptibilities
Infectious Microbes & Diseases
title An Epidemiologic Analysis of Vulvovaginal Candidiasis and Antifungal Susceptibilities
title_full An Epidemiologic Analysis of Vulvovaginal Candidiasis and Antifungal Susceptibilities
title_fullStr An Epidemiologic Analysis of Vulvovaginal Candidiasis and Antifungal Susceptibilities
title_full_unstemmed An Epidemiologic Analysis of Vulvovaginal Candidiasis and Antifungal Susceptibilities
title_short An Epidemiologic Analysis of Vulvovaginal Candidiasis and Antifungal Susceptibilities
title_sort epidemiologic analysis of vulvovaginal candidiasis and antifungal susceptibilities
url http://journals.lww.com/10.1097/IM9.0000000000000095
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