CANDIDA SPECIES IN THE GENITAL TRACT OF WOMEN ATTENDING A UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL FOR GYNECOLOGICAL INTERVENTIONS

Abstract

Introduction: Vulvovaginal candidiasis occurs in about 75% of all women during reproductive age, and around half of those will have at least one recurrent episode. Objectives: To evaluate the occurrence of Candida species in the genital tract of women attending a clinic of Gynecology and Obstetrics at the University Hospital for gynecological interventions, related to signs and symptoms of infection and also to evaluate the susceptibility to antifungal agents of the Candida isolates. Methods and materials: Samples of vaginal secretions were taken of 128 women during gynecological and colposcopic examination, through sterile swab, to carry out culture for fungi. Susceptibility tests were performed for fluconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole, nystatin and amphotericin B. Results: Twenty (15.6%) patients had positive culture for yeasts identified as: C. albicans (57.1%), C. glabrata (19%), C. parapsilosis complex (4.8%), C. lipolytica (4.8%), Trichosporon sp (9.5%), and Rhodotorula sp (4.8%). Ninety women (70.3%) reported no symptoms and 38 (29.6%) were symptomatic. The most frequent complaints were: discharge, vulval itching, and dyspareunia. All isolates were susceptible to the antifungal agents tested, except for some isolates of C. parapsilosis complex, which showed in vitro resistance to itraconazole. Conclusions: Although Candida species were isolated in only some of the women, C. albicans was the most common species. The more frequent complaints were discharge and vulvar itching. Most of the isolates were susceptible to the antifungals tested.