title: Candida colonization of the vagina in elderly residents of a long-term-care hospital.
abstract: The present study was conducted in order to determine the prevalence of vaginal colonization by Candida spp in elderly residents of a long-term-care hospital and to examine the determinants of vaginal candidiasis. Vaginal swabs for Gram stain and culture were obtained from 106 bedridden residents of a long-term-care hospital (study group; mean age, 83+/-7 years) and a control group of 50 similarly aged women admitted to an acute-care hospital for non-genital problems (mean age, 81+/-8 years). The characteristics of patients who tested positive for Candida spp were compared with those who tested negative. Candida spp were isolated from 34 (32%) patients in the study group and from four (8%) control patients (p=0.001). In the study group, Candida glabrata was by far the most common species isolated (51.2%). The warm and moist environment in the perineal area created by diaper use in incontinent individuals, together with decubitus ulcers and immobilization, which are common in elderly patients receiving long-term care, might be responsible for the high occurrence of vaginal colonization with Candida in these women.
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Unit, E. Wolfson Hospital, School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Holon, 58100, Israel. midan@post.tau.ac.il
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dan
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Segal
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Marder
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leibovitz
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002175:Candida / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D002181:Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care; D015995:Prevalence; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology*