CLINICAL STUDY OF CANDIDA VAGINITIS IN AHVAZ, IRAN AND SUSCEPTIBILITY OF AGENTS TO TOPICAL ANTIFUNGAL

Objective: To evaluate etiological agents of vaginal candidiasis in Ahvaz, Iran. In addition, susceptibility isolates were also considered against topical anti fungal agents. Methodology: Cotton swabs were used for sampling from vaginal lesions and inoculated on CHROMagar Candida. Cultured media were incubated at 37°C for 2-4 days aerobically. Colonies producing a green coloration were presumptively identified as Candida. albicans. C. glabrata produced pink colonies on CHROMagar Candida. One hundred vaginal isolates of Candida were sub-cultured on SDA and incubated at 37°C. A suspension of isolates containing 1×10^6 - 5×10^6 cfu/ml was used for susceptibility tests. Clotrimazole, miconazole and nystatin disks were used for determine of susceptibility. Results: Prevalence of Candida among the 300 women enrolled was found to be 49%. Recurrent and acute vaginal candidiasis were 48.3% and 51.7% respectively. C. albicans was the most common species among the isolates followed by C. glabrata, C. dubliniensis and Candida species. Antifungal susceptibility testing in our study revealed that none of the Candida isolates tested were resistant to tested antifungal. However, isolates were susceptible to clotrimazole followed by miconazole and nystatin. Conclusion: Candida vaginitis is more prevalent among women in Ahvaz and the most common agent is C. albicans. In addition our isolates were sensitive to clotrimazole followed by miconazole and nystatin.