[Vaginal colonization by Candida spp. Frequency and description of the species isolated in asymptomatic women].
BACKGROUND
During reproductive age 75% of women experience at least one episode of vulvovaginal candidiasis, approximately 6% to 55% of healthy women are asymptomatic carriers. In Mexico there are no current data of the frequency of vaginal colonization by Candida in the general population.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the frequency of the colonization by Candida species in asymptomatic women.


METHODS
A descriptive, open, observational, prospective, cross sectional study was carried out in adult women attending the cervical cytology department at Hospital General Dr. Manuel Gea González in Mexico City. The study was conducted from January to May 2013.


RESULTS
There were a total of 150 samples of asymptomatic women between 15 and 77 years (mean 43 years). We obtained positive culture for Candida in 19 samples (12.6 %). 47% of the species corresponded to C. albicans, however, it was isolated other species such as C. krusei in 26%, C. glabrata (21%) and C. tropicalis by 15%.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings are consistent with data reported in the literature. It is relevant the isolation of non-albicans Candida species. These findings may be caused by an increase of inappropriate therapies.
Martha Patricia
MP
Solís-Arias
Mónica
M
Moreno-Morales
Mónica
M
Dávalos-Tanaka
Ramón Felipe
RF
Fernández-Martánez
Oscar
O
Díaz Flores
Roberto
R
Arenas-Guzmán
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002175:Candida / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002181:Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult