Candida vaginitis in non-pregnant patients: A study of antifungal susceptibility testing and virulence factors


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Kalkanci A., GÜZEL A. B., Jabban I. I. K., Aydin M., İLKİT M. M., Kustimur S.

JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY, vol.33, no.4, pp.378-383, 2013 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 33 Issue: 4
  • Publication Date: 2013
  • Doi Number: 10.3109/01443615.2013.767323
  • Journal Name: JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.378-383
  • Keywords: Antifungal susceptibility, Candida albicans, fluconazole, germ-tube, proteinase, VULVO-VAGINAL CANDIDOSIS, ASPARTYL PROTEINASE, IN-VITRO, HEMOLYTIC ACTIVITIES, DIABETIC-PATIENTS, ALBICANS STRAINS, PHOSPHOLIPASE, EPIDEMIOLOGY, FLUCONAZOLE, ADHERENCE
  • Çukurova University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Vulvovaginal candidosis (VVC) is a major problem for the female population worldwide, and considerably little is known about the difference between acute VVC (AVVC) and recurrent VVC (RVVC). We investigated the susceptibility to six antifungal agents and boric acid of Candida spp. isolated from vaginal cultures, as described in the CLSI document M27-A3, from 228 non-pregnant sexually active women (aged 18-49 years), and the virulence factors of these isolates. The isolates were derived from patients with AVVC (n = 64), those with RVVC (n = 125) and those without signs or symptoms (n = 39). In total, C. albicans was the most commonly isolated species (50%), followed by C. glabrata (35.5%) and other Candida spp. (14.5%). We observed slightly different minimum inhibitory concentration (MICs) for various antifungals among the species and study groups that could have potential therapeutic benefits for the treatment. Analysis of the virulence factors revealed that haemolytic activity is not involved in VVC pathogenesis but that germ-tube formation, adhesion to VECs, and proteinase and phospholipase production may be important in the pathogenesis of VVC.