Identification of etiologic agents of recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis in patients from Isfahan, Iran

Abstract

Introduction: Occurrence of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC), as a common condition in women of childbearing age, is increasing all over the world as a result of extensive use of antibiotics and antifungal drugs. Objectives: In the present study to gain the up-to-date information on involved species and the prevalence of the recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC) in Isfahan, Iran, we assessed the etiologic agents of aforementioned disease in women referred to the Al-Zahra hospital (Isfahan, Iran). Furthermore, we surveyed the possible relationship between age, education and marital status with prevalence of albicans and non-albicans candidiasis. Patients and Methods: Our study was conducted on subjects who were admitted to the gynecology and midwifery clinic between September 2017 and August 2018 and had clinical presentations of vulvovaginitis. Sampling of 100 women was done using sterile swab. Samples were transferred to the hospital laboratory for cellular and molecular investigations. Results: Candida albicans was the main pathogen involved in the pathogenesis of RVVC and Candida glabrata is the second most common pathogen. Moreover, none of the 100 cases that we tested were infected with Candida krusei. We found a meaningful relationship between age and RVVC triggered by Candida albicans (P<0.05) but there was no significant relationship between age and RVVC that triggered by non-albicans fungi. There was no meaningful correlation between levels of education, number of children and types of delivery with RVVC that infected by various albicans and non-albicans candidiasis (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Candida albicans was the main pathogen involved in the pathogenesis of RVVC in Isfahan while Candida glabrata is the second most common pathogen. Despite their high cost, molecular methods have high value in accurate diagnosis of the RVVC.