Prevalence and Antifungal Susceptibility Profile of Vulvovaginal Candidiasis amongst Women of Reproductive Age in Jos Metropolis, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Vaginal candidiasis is the most common opportunistic mucosal infection that affects large numbers of healthy women of childbearing age. Candida is capable of causing various clinical manifestations ranging from mucocutaneous overgrowth to disseminated infection. This was a cross-sectional study conducted between September to December 2015. Aim of the study: To determine the prevalence and antifungal susceptibility of Candida isolates of vaginal swab among reproductive age women. Materials and Methods: Women within the age group of 15 to 45 years formed the population of this study. Socio-demographics information, were gotten through a standard questionnaire. Vaginal swabs were collected from each participant and cultured on Sabouraud dextrose agar supplemented with chloramphenicol. Identification of the isolates were based on morphological appearance, germ tube and chlamydospore formation. Antifungal susceptibility testing was performed by using the CLSI guidelines (CLSI, 2012). Results: Of the 246 participants who submitted vaginal swabs, yeasts was isolated in 47 (19.1%). Out of 47 yeasts isolates, 28 (11.4%) were Candida albicans while 19 (7.7%) were non- albicans Candida species (NAC). Antifungal susceptibility testing performed on C. albicans showed a high susceptibility to fluconazole 23/28 (82.1%) and nystatin 15/28 (53.6%) while NAC exhibited high resistance 4/19(21.1) and 2/19(10.5) to fluconazole and nystatin respectively. Conclusion: Hence, there is need to understand the pattern of antifungal susceptibility in our community in order to adequately check the spread of resistant species in this population.