The prevalence and species composition of Candida spp. causing vaginitis in women of reproductive age visiting Binh Dinh Hospital, 2024

Abstract

Candida spp. is one of the three main agents causing lower genital tract infections in women of reproductive age. In Vietnam, reports related to the identification of Candida spp. species through culturing on ChromoGelTM Candida Agar medium remain limited. This study aims to determine the rate of vaginitis caused by Candida spp. strains and analyze the composition of pathogenic fungal species. A total of 274 women aged 18 - 49 at Binh Dinh Hospital were examined through a crosssectional study from January 2024 to August 2024. The infection rate of Candida spp. among the study subjects was 26.28%. Identification on ChromoGelTM Candida Agar medium revealed a 97.22% mono-infection rate, with Candida albicans accounting for 63.88%, Candida krusei 25%, Candida glabrata 5.56%, and C. tropicalis 2.78%. The co-infection rate of C. albicans and C. krusei was 2.78%. All patients with vaginitis should undergo culture tests to promptly detect infectious agents, enabling timely and accurate treatment to prevent complications from the disease.