Prevalence of and risk factors for fungal vaginitis caused by non-albicans species.
OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to evaluate the prevalence of symptomatic yeast vaginitis caused by non-albicans species among patients attending a vaginitis clinic over an 8-year period.


METHODS
A retrospective study of 1263 patients with symptomatic yeast vaginitis confirmed by culture techniques was performed.


RESULTS
The prevalence of symptomatic fungal vaginitis caused by non-albicans species increased from 9.9% (10/101) in 1988 to 17.2% (36/209) in 1995 (chi 2 for trend = 9.33, p = 0.002). Non-albicans species were found more frequently in known human immunodeficiency virus-seropositive patients (23/102 vs 143/1161, odds ratio 2.07, 95% confidence interval 1.2 to 3.46) than in seronegative subjects or subjects of unknown status for the virus. Recurrent vaginal candidiasis was an additional risk factor for vaginitis caused by non-albicans species (odds ratio 2.47, 95% confidence interval 1.72 to 3.52). The increase in non-albicans isolates during the study period was confirmed in stratified analysis and in the subgroup of self-referred patients with no history of either human immunodeficiency virus infection or recurrent vaginal candidiasis.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of fungal vaginitis caused by non-albicans species has increased sharply in the setting of a vaginitis clinic. The characteristics of risk factors suggest that fungal cultures should be done routinely in human immunodeficiency virus-seropositive subjects with suspected vaginal candidiasis and in patients with recurrent vaginal infection.
Spinillo
A
A
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy.
Capuzzo
E
E
Gulminetti
R
R
Marone
P
P
Colonna
L
L
Piazzi
G
G
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D009181:Mycoses / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014627:Vaginitis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*