Prevalence and risk factors for colonization of vaginal Candida in reproductive women of Iligan City, Philippines

Candida albicans is a opportunistic fungal pathogen of the female genitourinary tract which is known to be a causative agent for vaginal thrush and candidiasis. With a definite lack of information about the prevalence of Candida amongst healthy women of reproductive age in the Philippines, the present study was performed to evaluate prevalence and associated risk factors for the vaginal colonization of C. albicans. One hundred seventy eligible individuals were recruited to be part of the study whose demographic, lifestyle and medical information were obtained through direct interviews using a semi-structured questionnaire. The self-collected vaginal specimens were obtained and were allowed to grow on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA) and incubated at ambient room temperature for seven days with a daily assessment of growth. Yeast-like colonies were isolated, purified and identified using phenotypic tests: micromorphology, germ tube test and the use of the chromogenic medium CHROMagar Candida. Ninety-eight samples yielded positive yeast cultures on SDA which is significantly higher that previously published studies. 150 yeast-like isolates were randomly picked and subjected to wet mount examination which showed 23% (35/150) of the isolates formed germ tubes and thus, presumed to be C. albicans. On the other hand, fifty-four isolates yielded green-colored colonies on CHROMagar Candida and were also presumptively identified as C. albicans. Statistical analysis showed no significant association among variables with the isolation of C. albicans. Statistical analysis showed no significant correlation between the isolation of C. albicans and the identified risk factors.