title: Detection of Candida species in vaginal samples in a clinical laboratory setting.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To present the detection rates of Candida species in vaginal samples from patients visiting physicians.
  
  
  METHODS
  The presence of C. albicans, C. glabrata, C. parapsilosis and C. tropicalis in 3978 vaginal swabs from patients in six US states was detected by PCR amplification.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Candida DNA was detected in 33.1% of the population studied. Of the 1316 positive samples, 80.2% contained C. albicans, 14.3% contained C. glabrata, 5.9% contained C. parapsilosis and 8.0% contained C. tropicalis. Comparing samples by patients' state of residence revealed an association with the detection of C. glabrata (p = 0.029). Comparing samples by patients' age revealed a decrease in the overall detection of Candida (p < 0.001) and C. albicans (p < 0.001), concomitant with an increase in the detection of C. glabrata (p < 0.001) and C. parapsilosis (p = 0.025).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results provide geographic- and age-specific data on four Candida species associated with vaginitis.
authors: Medical Diagnostic Laboratories, L.L.C, Hamilton, NJ 08690, USA.
authors: Jason P
authors: JP
authors: Trama
authors: Martin E
authors: ME
authors: Adelson
authors: Israel
authors: I
authors: Raphaelli
authors: Shlomo M
authors: SM
authors: Stemmer
authors: Eli
authors: E
authors: Mordechai
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002175:Candida / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002181:Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal / Q000382:microbiology*; D002648:Child; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014481:United States; D014626:Vaginal Smears; D014627:Vaginitis / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D004271:DNA, Fungal