Vulvovaginal candidiasis: Prevalence of yeast species other than Candida albicans

Objective: Vulvovaginal candidiasis has been reported as the most frequent vaginal disease, after vaginosis. The aim of the present study is to assess the prevalence of vulvovaginal candidiasis and to investigate the spectrum of isolated yeasts. Methods: Between January and December 2005, 462 women, attending the Gynecological and Obstetric Department, were enrolled in this study: vaginal specimen was collected and immediately sent for fungal culture on Agar Sabouraud; Candida species were identified using a Biomèieux Kit API 20C AUX. Clinical and laboratory data were evaluated. Results: Candida culture was positive in 118 out of 462 samples (25.54%); C. albicans species was isolated in the 79.66% of cases and a single species of other yeasts in the 20.33%. A significant difference was found between the mean age of patients affected by C. krusei and C. tropicalis and the mean age of women carrying C. albicans (F 0.01). Patients affected by other yeasts than C. albicans bad less probability to have symptoms (X2 =16.43; P<0.01). Conclusions: C. albicans was the predominant species, followed by C. krusei. Some differences between the epidemiological characteristics of women carrying C. albicans and those carrying non-albicans yeast were found.