IDENTIFICATION AND ANTIFUNGAL SUSCEPTIBILITY OF CANDIDA SPECIES IN VULVOVAGINAL CANDIDIASIS FEMALE PATIENTS AT A VIETNAMESE HOSPITAL

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence rate of Candida species isolated from women clinically suspected of having vulvovaginal candidiasis and assess susceptibility patterns against commonly used antifungal agents. Methods: This was a cross-sectional, hospital-based study conducted for candidiasis at the vaginal level from May 2023 to December 2023. A total of 146 women clinically suspected of infecting Candida spp. were subjected to the identification employing disc diffusion methods. Antifungal susceptibility assay was conducted on Candida isolates against four commonly used antifungal drugs of the azole group. Results: Of the 146 Candida strain isolates from vaginal swabs, Candida albicans was the most prevalent occurrence accounting for 68.75%, followed by Candida glabrata (11.88%) and Candida parapsilosis (11.25%). Of the 110 Candida albicans isolates, 108 cases were sensitive to clotrimazole, followed by miconazole (41 cases). Meanwhile, of the 50 non-albicans isolates, all cases were susceptible to clotrimazole, followed by miconazole (38 cases). Different rates of resistance against itraconazole and fluconazole (but not clotrimazole and miconazole) were documented in all isolated non-albicans strains. The 96 Candida albicans cases exhibited resistance to fluconazole, followed by miconazole (5 cases) and clotrimazole (1 case). Conclusion: These findings provided data for better disease management, aiming at reducing morbidity and mortality.