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. 2025 Apr 30:20:Doc15.
doi: 10.3205/dgkh000544. eCollection 2025.

Evaluation of epidemiological, clinical, and microbiological features of vulvovaginal candidiasis

Reza Faraji  1 , Abbas Maleki  2 , Abbas Gheisoori  1 , Taha Rashidi  3 , Amirhossein Salimi Mansouri  3 , Fatemeh Rashidi  4 , Sadegh Faraji  5 , Alireza Kashefizadeh  6 , Arezoo Bozorgomid  7
Affiliations

Evaluation of epidemiological, clinical, and microbiological features of vulvovaginal candidiasis

Reza Faraji et al. GMS Hyg Infect Control. .

Abstract
in English, German

Background: Vaginal candidiasis is induced by abnormal growth of yeast on the mucous membranes of the female genital tract. Approximately 75% of women experience a yeast infection once in their lifetime. This study explored the epidemiological, clinical, and microbiological features of vaginal candidiasis in diabetic women referred to health and treatment centers in Kermanshah in 2023.

Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 215 diabetic women. A questionnaire was prepared for each participant. The samples were examined microscopically and cultured on Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA). To identify different species of Candida (C.), various complementary tests were performed, such as the germ tube and differential sugar absorption test (API). A sensitivity test was applied to positive samples by the broth macrodilution method. Data were analyzed using the chi-squared test in SPSS.

Results: Out of the 215 vaginal swabs investigated, 66 specimens were Candida-species positive (30.7%). 11.6% of participants were diagnosed with candidal vulvovaginitis by direct microscopic examination and 20.9% by culturing on SDA. The Candida species isolated were: C. albi ca n s with 36 cases (54.5%), C. glabrata with 14 cases (21.2%), C. tropicalis with 9 cases (13.6%) and C. parapsilosis with 7 cases (10.6%). All species isolated showed the same sensitivity to the antifungal drugs used.

Conclusion: The culture method was more sensitive than the direct microscopic examination. C. albicans was the most prevalent species isolated from patients. Non-albicans species were not prevalent.

Hintergrund: Die vaginale Candidiasis wird durch das abnormale Wachstum von Hefepilzen auf der Schleimhaut des weiblichen Genitaltrakts hervorgerufen. Ungefähr 75% der Frauen erleiden einmal im Leben eine Hefepilzinfektion. Diese Studie untersuchte die epidemiologischen, klinischen und mikrobiologischen Merkmale der vaginalen Candidiasis bei diabetischen Frauen, die im Jahr 2023 an das Gesundheits- und Behandlungszentren in Kermanshah überwiesen wurden.

Methode: Die deskriptive Querschnittsstudie wurde an 215 Diabetikerinnen durchgeführt. Für jede Teilnehmerin wurde ein Fragebogen erstellt. Die Proben wurden der mikroskopischen Untersuchung und Kultur auf Sabouraud-Dextrose-Agar (SDA) unterzogen. Ergänzende Tests wurden durchgeführt, um verschiedene Candida-Arten zu identifizieren, wie z.B. Keimschlauchtest und Zuckerabsorptionstests (API). Der Sensitivitätstest wurde auf die positiven Proben mittels der Bouillon-Makrodilutionsmethode angewendet. Die Daten wurden mit SPSS unter Verwendung des Chi-Quadrat-Tests analysiert.

Ergebnisse: Von 215 untersuchten Vaginalabstrichen waren 66 Proben positiv auf Candida-Spezies (30,7%). Bei 11,6% wurde durch direkte mikroskopische Untersuchung, bei 20,9% durch Kultivierung auf SDA eine Candida-Vulvovaginitis diagnostiziert. Die isolierten Candida-Arten waren: Candida (C.) albicans mit 36 Fällen (54,5%), C. glabrata mit 14 Fällen (21,2%), C. tropicalis mit 9 Fällen (13,6%) und C. parapsilosis mit 7 Fällen (10,6%). Die Empfindlichkeit der isolierten Arten gegenüber den verwendeten Antimykotika war gleich.

Schlussfolgerung: Die Kulturmethode war empfindlicher als die direkte mikroskopische Untersuchung. C. albicans war die am häufigsten isolierte Spezies. Allerdings kamen keine non-C. albicans Arten vor.

Keywords: diabetes mellitus; vaginal candidiasis; women.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Table 1
Table 1. Sensitivity of Candida spp. isolated from affected women to the tested antifungal drugs
Table 2
Table 2. Absolute and relative frequency distribution of affected women in terms of variety of influencing factors
Figure 1
Figure 1. Microscopic image of pseudohyphae (40-fold magnification)
Figure 2
Figure 2. Microscopic image of germ tube (40-fold magnification)
Figure 3
Figure 3. Candida colony growth in Sabouraud dextrose agar medium
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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