PREVALENCE OF VULVOVAGINAL CANDIDIASIS AMONG PRE AND POST-MENOPAUSAL DIABETIC AND NON-DIABETIC WOMEN

Abstract

The Study included 150 diabetics and non-diabetic, pre and post-menopausal women of the age group between 35-65yrs, with symptoms of vaginitis, who attended Gynaec OPD of SreeBalaji Medical College and Hospital, Chennai, and were screened for Vulvovaginal candidiasis. 100 were diabetic women and mentioned as study group and 50 were non-diabetic and mentioned as control group. In this study, pre-menopausal age group was between 35-45yrs and post-menopausal age group was between 45-65yrs. The higher prevalence of vaginal candidiasis was in post-menopausal age group (>45yrs), which contribute to 63.5%(out of 52 positive cases) and low prevalence rate in pre-menopausal age group (35 -45yrs) which was 36.5% (out of 52 positive cases). Diabetes mellitus was the common risk factor associated. Percentage of Candida isolated in diabetes was 42% and non-diabetes was 20%, and is one of the predisposing factors for non-albicans candida spp infection. The total prevalence of vulvovaginal candidiasis was 34.6% (out of 52 positive cases) which was similar to other studies. C. albicans was isolated in 50% from the 52 positive samples obtained, and was one of the predominant isolate among Candida species causing vulvovaginal candidiasis. Out of the 52 isolates, C. glabrata was isolated in 28.8%, C. tropicalis in 13.4% and C. krusei in 7.6%. Other common vaginal Candida species like C. parapsilosis and C. kefyr were not detected. Among Non-albicans group, C. glabrata was the predominant isolate found. Hi Chrom agar was a comfortable rapid method for species identification, with a sensitivity of 98% and specificity of 100% Sugar assimilation test using Rapid identification kit is another method for speciation used here. Study showed, Hi-Chrom agar was the better method of speciation, compared to sugar assimilation test using Rapid identification kit. Hi-Chrom agar showed 100% sensitivity while SAT showed only 86.3% of sensitivity. Resistance to fluconazole in C. albicans showed 3.8% and among Non-albicans group, C. glabrata and C. krusei showed 100% resistance. For Itraconazole, C. albicans showed 69.2% sensitivity and Non-albicans group 60% of sensitivity. For Amphotericin B, 100% of the total isolates remained sensitive.