Objectives: Determination of different Candida species present in vagina of pregnant and non-pregnant women with recurrent vaginal candidiasis, and the susceptibility patterns of vaginal Candida to antifungal drugs.
Patients & Methods: This study included 93 women with recurrent clear clinical picture of Candida vaginitis. Divided equally into 3 groups: 31 pregnant women in the third trimester, 31 non-pregnant women in the period of fertility using combined pills and 31 non-pregnant women not using contraception. Two high vaginal swabs were taken by sterile cotton wool swabs soaked in sterile saline. One swab was examined by Gram stain and the second swab was streaked onto a plate of sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA) with chloramphenicol. Identified Candida species were tested for susceptibility to antifungal drugs (Fluconazole, Itraconazole, Caspofungin, Voriconazole, Econazole and Nystatin) by disc diffusion method. Results: In this study, Candida albicans and Candida glabrata were the most common species isolated from vaginal specimen followed by Candida krusei. There was a statistically significant increase in the percentage of Candida krusei among non-pregnant not using oral contraception group than other groups. The resistance to Econazole, fluconazol and Itraconazole were significantly increased in C. non albicans more than their resistance in C. albicans.
Conclusion: Although Candida albicans was the most prevalent species causing vaginal candidiasis in pregnant and non-pregnant using contraception women, candida non albicans are also incriminated in high percentage, eg C. glabrata, and C. krusei. Both C …