Frequency of variety of Candida species in women with Candida vaginitis referred to clinical centers of Mashhad, Iran

Vaginal candidiasis is a common genital tract infection in women caused by variety of Candida species. C. albicans is the most common species that are isolated from candidiasis، but in recent years other pathogenic Candida، such as C. glabrata، C. parapsilosis and C. tropicalis have been significantly increased. This study was performed with aim to identify the variety of candida species in women with Candida vaginitis. This cross-sectional study was performed on 158 patients with symptoms of vaginitis referred to health centers of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences in 2013-2014. Positive cultures were collected from patients and were identified by using different diagnostic tests such as germ tube test، culture in Candida CHROM agar and corn meal agar with tween 80 medium، and assimilation test by API 20C AUX kit. Analysis of data was performed using SPSS statistical software (version 16) and chi-square test. In this study، 77. 7% Candida albicans، 9% C. parapsilosis، 7% C. glabrata، 4% C. tropicalis and 1% C. kefir were isolated. Age group of 28-37 years had the highest rates of infection (%48. 43). Among pregnant، the highest frequency was related to C. albicans (%86/66) and then، C. glabrata (%6. 66)، and in non-pregnant women، C. albicans (%71. 4) and then، C. glabrata (%11. 90). In this study، a significant increase was observed in the amount of C. glabrata and C. parapsilosis.