title: An epidemiological survey of vulvovaginal candidiasis in Italy.
abstract: Eight Italian hospital or University gynecology clinics participated in a prospective survey of patients with culture-confirmed symptomatic vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) (October 1999 to March 2001). Of 1138 patients recruited in the study, 931 were evaluable. A recent history of VVC was documented in 43.5% patients (358/823) with a mean number of 2.9+/-2.7 episodes per patient (N=302). A total of 77 patients (10.0%) had a history of recurrent VVC (four and more episodes in a 12-month period). The most frequent associated factors were related to life style: synthetic fabric underwear, vaginal douching and bike, training bike and motorbike (about 1/3 each). Oral contraception was found in 20.8% patients, recent antibiotic use in 15.9% patients, current pregnancy concerned 10.3% patients while 3.4% patients were taking hormonal replacement therapy. Diabetes, corticosteroids or HIV were rarely encountered. Yeast was documented by direct microscopy in 78.3% patients (448/572). A positive culture was obtained in 98.3% patients (909/925). Candida albicans was the predominant species (77.1%), followed by Candida glabrata (14.6%) and Candida krusei (4.0%). With the exception of one center with a lower proportion of C. albicans, this latter represented between 75 and 85% of the isolates. Overall, this study confirmed the preponderant role played by C. albicans in either sporadic and recurrent VVC.
authors.affiliation: Microbiological and gynecological sciences division, University of Catania, Via Androne, 81-95120, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Corsello
authors.forename: Arsenio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Spinillo
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Osnengo
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Penna
authors.forename: Secondo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guaschino
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Beltrame
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Blasi
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Festa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001642:Bicycling; D002181:Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D003020:Clothing; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008019:Life Style; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation; D014621:Vagina
chemical_list: D003276:Contraceptives, Oral