Features of vaginal microbiota in women with vulvovaginal candidiasis

Introduction: Dysbiotic changes in the microbiota of the genital tract in candidal vulvovaginitis are manifested by the formation of associations of Candida fungi with various representatives of opportunistic microflora against the background of Lactobacillus spp. deficiency. In the vast majority of cases, the causative agent of the infection is Candida albicans, with Candida non-albicans being less frequently registered. Material and methods: To assess the species and quantitative composition of the vaginal microflora in women, bacteriological studies were conducted. The research group consisted of 60 women with candidal vulvovaginitis. The control group consisted of 30 healthy women. Results: The results indicate that in 95% of women with vulvovaginal candidiasis, the vaginal microbiota is characterized by the formation of 2–4 component associations of Candida fungi with various representatives of facultatively anaerobic and obligately anaerobic conditionally pathogenic microflora. The species spectrum of fungi isolated from the genital tract of women with candidal vulvovaginitis mainly included C. albicans (75%) and, less frequently, Candida non-albicans (25%). In healthy women, C. albicans was recorded in 10% of those examined, and Candida non-albicans in 6.6%. Conclusions: An increase in the frequency of detection of Candida non-albicans species in the spectrum of fungi isolated from the vagina of women with candidal vulvovaginitis, an increase in the frequency of fungal-bacterial associations of microorganisms, as well as a deficiency or absence of Lactobacillus spp., confirms the importance of constant bacteriological monitoring to identify changes in the composition of the vaginal microbiota and prescribe adequate therapy.