Clinical characteristics of vulvovaginal candidiasis and antifungal susceptibilities of Candida species isolates among patients in southern China from 2003 to 2006

Abstract

To determine the clinical characteristics of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC), the Candida species involved and the antifungal susceptibility of Candida species isolated from patients with VVC. Candida organisms were cultured from samples obtained from patients who presented with VVC to the Gynecology Department, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital. Antifungal susceptibility testing was performed using a commercial agar diffusion test. Of the 1,070 cases of VVC reported in this study, 36.5% were uncomplicated VVC, and 63.5% were complicated VVC. Twenty-four patients were identified as having two species of Candida. Candid albicans alone was isolated from 89.5% of cases (n = 958). Candida glabrata was isolated from 85 cases (7.9%), Candida tropicalis from 10 (0.9%), Saccharomyces cerevisiae from eight (0.7%), Candida parapsilosis from six (0.6%), Candida famata from two (0.2%), and Candida krusei from one case (0.1%). All isolates of Candida albicans were susceptible to nystatin. The resistant rate of Candida albicans to azole agents was 0-4.9%. Candida albicans was the predominant Candida species isolated from this series of patients with VVC. Resistance of vaginal Candida albicans isolates to antifungal agents was infrequent.