Investigating the Frequency of Candida glabrata in Diabetic Women of Tehran with Recurrent and Non-recurrent Vulvovaginal Candidiasis Using PCR-RFLP Assay

Abstract

Vaginitis is one of the most prevalent reproductive tract infections (RTIs) among sexually active women. Annually, about 340 million cases of curable sexually transmitted infections (STIs) occur worldwide, mostly in developing countries [1, 2]. After bacterial infections, vulvovaginal candidiasis is believed to be responsible for approximately one-third of vaginitis cases [3, 4]. However, some studies indicate a higher prevalence of Candida infection compared to bacterial vaginosis and trichomoniasis [5, 6, 7]. About %75 of healthy women within the age range of 2550 years have experienced non-recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) at least once in their lifetime, but 5% to 20% are prone to recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC) at least four times during a year [7-9].