Prevalence and epidemiological characteristics of vaginal candidiasis in the UAE

Abstract

Vaginal candidiasis (VC) continues to be a health problem to women worldwide. Although the majority of VC cases are caused by Candida albicans (C. albicans), non-albicans Candida spp. like C. glabrata and C. tropicalis are emerging as important and potentially resistant opportunistic agents of VC. The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and epidemiology of VC in the UAE through retrospective analysis of pertinent data compiled by the microbiology and infection control unit at Latifa Hospital, Dubai between 2005 and 2011. The incidence of VC significantly increased from 10.76% in 2005 to 17.61% in 2011; average prevalence was 13.88%. C. albicans occurred at a frequency of 83.02%, C. glabrata at 16.5% and C. tropicalis at 1.2%. A single C. dubliniensis isolate was identified in the sample population. The percentage of C. albicans significantly decreased from 83.02% in the sample population as a whole to 60.8% in subjects over 45 years of age (P < 0.01) and that of C. glabrata, C. tropicalis and C. krusei significantly increased from 13.88%, 0.9% and 0.03% to 29.7%, 6.7% and 1.4% (P < 0.05) respectively. The incidence of VC in the UAE is on the rise and the frequency of non-albicans Candida spp. is noticeably increasing especially in postmenopausal women.

Azole Resistance and Detection of the ERG11 Gene in Clinical Candida albicans Isolated from Pregnant Women with Vulvovaginitis Attending Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, Nigeria

“…There is need to draw the attention of clinicians in our environment to this situation so that they can sought improve treatment via different approaches, which may include the combination (synergistic) of antifungals as evidence has shown that combinatory therapy contributes to reducing toxicity and could be an alternative for treatment of candidiasis due to C. albicans [58,59]. However, the possibility of some system bias cannot be excluded due to the potential reasons of the different specimen, test method, and regional disparity [60,61].…”

Vulvovaginal Candidiasis: A Current Understanding and Burning Questions

“…Often, prolonged antifungal regimens or alternative treatment approaches (e.g., vaginal boric acid suppositories) are required for clearance [24,25]. Given reduced therapeutic efficacy, recent reports suggesting increased incidence rates of NAC-associated VVC are somewhat unsettling [26,27]. However, such reports should be taken with caution, as symptomatic VVC can mimic several disease states of the lower FRT and the ability to distinguish Candida as a true pathogen from an asymptomatic colonizer can be difficult.…”

Untitled

“…Rathod et al [123] expressed doubts on the often quoted figures in various publications, and contended that these are higher than the true magnitude of the problem [123]. Recent reports though indicate that the incidence of genital candidiasis is increasing [124]. Cognisant of global increases in some of the key risk factors thereof, such as diabetes mellitus, antibiotic use, and changing individual life-styles and more liberal sexual behaviours and practices which may increase the risk thereto, this assertion may not be far-fetched.…”