Antifungal susceptibility and test for cure of <i>candida species</i> among vulvovaginal candidiasis patients in a secondary care hospital, Nigeria

Background: Antimicrobial resistance among Candida species is an intense public health concern. The aim of the study was to determine the antifungal susceptibility pattern and test for cure of Candida species among women of child bearing age who visited the General Hospital Onitsha, Nigeria with symptoms suggestive of Vulvovaginal Candidiasis (VVC). Materials and Methods: Eight hundred and seventy six female patients participated in the study of which high vaginal swabs were collected and evaluated mycological by standard microbiological methods: microscopic examination and culture using sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA). Susceptibility of isolates to 4 antifungal agents was tested using agar dilution method. Clinicomycological evaluation was also performed among the patients. Result : Higher minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) to azole antifungals was observed predominantly among non-albicans Candida species increasingly involved in VVC. The rate of mycological resolution was higher than symptomatic relief at 2 weeks after treatment with antifungal drug. Conclusion : Efficacious treatment of VVC requires an adequate knowledge of the causative agents and more importantly the antimicrobial to which they exhibit high susceptibility. Keywords: Vulvovaginal Candidiasis, Clinico- mycology, Antimicrobial resistance, Candida species Susceptibilite antifonique et test pour la cure du0027especes de candida entre les patients de candidases vulvovaginales dans un hopital de soins secondaires, Nigeria Contexte: La resistance aux antimicrobiens chez les especes de Candida est un probleme de sante publique intense. Lu0027objectif de lu0027etude etait de determiner le schema de susceptibilite aux antifongiques et le test de guerison des especes de Candida parmi les femmes en âge de procreer qui ont visite lu0027hopital general de Onitsha, au Nigeria, avec des symptomes suggerant une candidose vulvovaginale (VVC). Materiaux et methodes: huit cent soixante-seize six patientes ont participe a lu0027etude des prelevements vaginaux eleves collectes et evalues par mycologie par methodes microbiologiques standard: examen microscopique et culture a lu0027aide de la gelose sabouraud dextrose (SDA). La susceptibilite des isolats a 4 agents antifongiques a ete testee en utilisant une methode de dilution en agar. Une evaluation clinico-mycologique a egalement ete realisee chez les patients. Resultat: une concentration minimale minimale du0027inhibition (MIC) en anatoxines azoliques a ete observee principalement chez les especes non-albicans Candida de plus en plus impliquees dans VVC. Le taux de resolution mycologique etait plus eleve que le soulagement symptomatique a 2 semaines apres le traitement par un medicament antifongique. Conclusion : Un traitement efficace de la VVC necessite une connaissance adequate des agents causaux et, plus important encore, des antimicrobiens auxquels ils presentent une forte susceptibilite. Mots-cles : Candidiase Vulvovaginale, Clinico-mycologie, Resistance Antimicrobienne, Especes Candida