Identification of yeasts in public hospital primary care patients with or without clinical vaginitis.

Objective: Vaginal yeast infections are one of the most common female genital tract infections. Candida albicans is the most common infectious cause. Candida species other than C. albicans are being diagnosed with increasing frequency. The aim of the present study was to determine species of yeasts obtained from the vaginal fluid among public hospital primary care patients with or without clinical vaginitis and to evaluate the correlation of vaginal yeast colonisation with epidemiological and clinical features of applicants.

Methods: Vaginal swabs from 622 women who underwent vaginal examination in a women's hospital were obtained. After isolation, identification tests were carried out on 106 yeast species. Epidemiological and clinical features of women with respect to these species were evaluated.

Results: Of 106 yeasts isolated, 67 C. albicans, 10 C. glabrata, seven C. kefyr (pseudotropicalis), six C. tropicalis, five C. parapsilosis, five C. krusei, three Saccharomyces boulardii, one C. guillermondii, one S. cerevisiae and one Trichosporon species were identified as yeast subtypes. Of the women with C. albicans, C. glabrata, C. kefyr, C. tropicalis, C. krusei, 60, three, one, one, and one, respectively, had symptoms of vaginitis. Of women with C. albicans, C. glabrata, C. kefyr, C. tropicalis, C. parapsilosis, C. krusei, and the other species, 27, four, three, two, one, one, and one, respectively, had clinical findings of vaginitis.

Conclusion: Despite the heterogeneity of the present study group, the results support the use of vaginal culture as the most sensitive test for final diagnosis. However, a positive culture does not mean that the C. albicans is pathogenic, as it may be the normal commensal pathogen. Correlation of clinical and laboratory findings is important as it enables the administration of appropriate treatment without delay.