Vaginal microbiology of women with acute recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis

Abstract

Alterations in the autochthonous vaginal microflora can predispose women to recurring attacks of Candida vaginitis. Quantitative aerobic and anaerobic cultures were obtained from 24 premenopausal women with acute recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis and from 21 healthy asymptomatic premenopausal women. Lactobacillus species constituted the predominant flora in both groups, with a mean log10 CFU/ml of 8.7, a total isolation rate of 96%, and a mean of 1.6 Lactobacillus species isolated per patient compared with a mean log10 CFU/ml of 8.9, a total isolation rate of 90%, and a mean of 1.2 Lactobacillus species isolated per patient in the vaginitis and control groups, respectively. The results of this small study failed to provide evidence of an altered or abnormal vaginal bacterial flora in women with non-antibiotic-induced recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis suffering from acute Candida vaginitis.

Lactobacillus crispatus accelerates re‐epithelialization in vaginal epithelial cell line MS74

“…More than 20 kinds of Lactobacillus have been detected in the vaginal tract, 15 and the total concentration of lactobacilli in the vagina is 10 7 -10 8 CFU/mL of vaginal fluid. 47,48 In vaginal epithelial cell multilayer culture, the growth of L. crispatus reached equilibrium at approximately 10 5 CFU/mL over 24 hours cultivation, 49 which may be one reason for the present observation that the effect of L. crispatus on re-epithelialization also reached a plateau at 10 5 CFU/mL. VEGF is an important factor in the tissue repair process and is known as a migration inducer of epithelial cells.…”

The role of Lactobacillus species in the control of Candida via biotrophic interactions

“…Most studies also show that Lactobacillus remains the dominant bacterial species during VVC [108,109]. The composition of the Lactobacillus strains differs during Candida infections [108,110], which could lead to a decrease of lactic acid concentration and possibly other metabolites which in turn may allow Candida growth in the vaginal tract.…”

Symptomatic candidiasis: Using self sampled vaginal smears to establish the presence of Candida, lactobacilli, and Gardnerella vaginalis

“…Studies by Sobel et al and Hawes et al confirm that women with yeast vaginitis have the same frequency and concentration of Lactobacillus species as women without recurrent infections. 18,19 Moreover, Zdolsek et al noted that VVC occurs more frequently in women with a lactobacilli-predominated vaginal flora, as compared to those with a flora change with a mixture of anaerobic and facultative anaerobic bacteria. 20 In 40 smears, we expected to find at least 12 smears with ''clue cells,'' but none were found.…”