Detection of Candida species in vaginal samples in a clinical laboratory setting.
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.
Trama
Jason P
JP
Medical Diagnostic Laboratories, L.L.C, Hamilton, NJ 08690, USA.
Adelson
Martin E
ME
Raphaelli
Israel
I
Stemmer
Shlomo M
SM
Mordechai
Eli
E
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*
D004271:DNA, Fungal