title: Yeasts of the genital region of patients attending the dermatology service at Hospital São Paulo, Brazil.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The knowledge of the diversity of yeasts that make up the skin microbiota of human beings is essential for the efficient monitoring of infections to which a person may be predisposed.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study identified yeasts comprising the genital skin microbiota of patients attending the Dermatology Service at the Hospital São Paulo-UNIFESP, Brazil.
  
  
  METHODS
  Samples were collected from the genital region of each patient and cultured on Sabouraud dextrose agar. Individual colonies were carefully transferred to tubes daily. Yeasts were identified based on classical methodologies and confirmed using a commercial kit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty-three patients were included in the study. Approximately 80% were women and 20% were men. The average age was 55 years. Hypertension, diabetes, kidney transplant and AIDS were the main underlying diseases reported by the patients. The most prevalent yeasts were Candida parapsilosis (36.1%), Rhodotorula mucilaginosa (9.2%), Rhodotorula glutinis (8.3%), Candida tropicalis (5.5%) and Trichosporon inkin (1.8%). Approximately 78% of the isolates were obtained in pure cultures. Trichosporon inkin was isolated only from women, in contrast to literature describing a high prevalence in males.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that Candida albicans is not the main yeast found on genital skin as previously thought, and opportunistic pathogens such as C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis, Rhodotorula spp. and T. inkin make up the genital skin microbiota, representing a risk for infection in immunocompromised subjects. These results also indicate that women are carriers of T. inkin, the etiological agent of white piedra and trichosporonosis.
authors.affiliation: Center for Health Sciences, Universidade Cruzeiro do Sul (UNICSUL), São Paulo, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: hbentubo@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Henri Donnarumma Levy
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Bentubo
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Intern in the Department of Cell Biology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP/EPM), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ariane
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mantovani
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP/EPM), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jane Tomimori
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Yamashita
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Walderez
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gambale
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP/EPM), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Fischman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002353:Carrier State / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003880:Dermatology; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005260:Female; D005836:Genitalia, Female / Q000382:microbiology*; D005837:Genitalia, Male / Q000382:microbiology*; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D064307:Microbiota; D008875:Middle Aged; D009181:Mycoses / Q000453:epidemiology; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D012737:Sex Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology*; D015003:Yeasts / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Candida parapsilosis; Genital microbiota; Levaduras; Malassezia spp.; Microbiota genital; Trichosporon inkin; Yeasts