Prevalence and Antifungal Resistance Patterns of Candida Species in Vulvovaginal Candidiasis Patients at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Bhubaneswar, Odisha

Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is a prevalent fungal infection affecting women globally, with increasingantifungal resistance presenting major treatment challenges. This study aimed to assess the prevalenceand antifungal resistance patterns of Candida species among patients with VVC at a tertiary care hospitalin Bhubaneswar, Odisha. Fifty vaginal swab samples were collected from symptomatic patients andanalysed using both phenotypic and molecular techniques for precise species identification and antifungalsusceptibility testing.