Aetiological pattern of vulvovaginal candidiasis in Maltese patients

Abstract

Vaginitis is one of the most common problems in clinical medicine. The yeast-like Candida is the commonest organism causing vaginal infections in Europe, and the second most frequent in the United States. Recently a sharp increase in the incidence of these infections in the Western World and the emergence of non-albicans species have been reported, frequently associated with recurrence, probably due to resistance to the commonly used antifungal agents. The aim of this study is to assess the incidence of mycotic vulvovaginitis and to detect the emergence of non-albicans species and resistant strains in symptomatic women. The difference in species could have clinical and therapeutic implications.