Characterization of Candida Species Isolated from Patients with Vulvovaginitis

Vulvovaginal Candidiasis (VC) is a common mucosal infection in women caused by the opportunistic yeast-like fungus Candida albicans. A significant percentage of these patients (5%) subsequently experience recurrent candida infections. The diagnosis of vulvovaginits is based on the patient’s presenting symptoms and the clinical laboratory methods. The aim of this study was to characterize the Candida species isolated from patients with vulvovaginitis. All patients with the VC symptoms who were referred to the gynecologist’s clinic of Alzahra and Taleghani hospital were investigated. After sampling from vagina and cervix discharge، two direct slides were perpared and then stained with gram stain method. The vaginal discharges were cultured on suitable media for isolation and characterization of Candida species by related laboratory methods. 120 samples obtained from patients. 77 patients (65%) were infected with Candida species. The frequency of the Candida albicans، Candida glabrata، Candida parapsilosis and the Candida tropicalis were 63 (81. 8%)، 9 (11. 7%)، 4 (5. 2%)، and 1 (1. 3%)، respectively. Candida albicans was the most common species leading to the Vulvovaginitis in patients with VC while other species were at the secondary importance stages.