Lanying Li,* Xinyuan Zhang,* Qian Li, Wen Zhong, Hua Zou

Department of Laboratory Medicine, Chongqing Health Center for Women and Children, Women and Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People’s Republic of China

*These authors contributed equally to this work

Correspondence: Wen Zhong; Hua Zou, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Chongqing Health Center for Women and Children, Women and Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, 120 Longshan Road, Yubei District, Chongqing, 400016, People’s Republic of China, Tel +8615823827032 ; +8613512371464, Email 23119401@qq.com; 1316933969@qq.com

Purpose: Candida vaginitis is widely prevalent worldwide and is one of the common gynecological disorders. The aim of this study is to analyze the sensitivity of recurrent vulvovaginal (RVVC) candidiasis to antifungal drugs and its relationship with vaginal microbiota.
Patients and Methods: We Isolated and cultured Candida from RVVC patients, mass spectrometry and broth microdilution method were used to identify and determine MIC values of antifungal drugs. Clinical medical records and vaginal microbiota of RVVC patients were also collected.
Results: The main pathogens causing RVVC are predominantly Candida albicans (70.26%), but in recent years, there has been an increasing proportion of Candida glabrata(24.46%). However, only 15.70% of Candida albicans were sensitive to Voriconazole, 35.84% to Fluconazole and 25.60% to Itraconazole. No fluconazole-resistant Candida glabrata was found. Most Candida krusei strains were sensitive to voriconazole (81.80%). More important MIC values of triazoles were increased in Candida species, when exposed to clotrimazole. In addition, we found that the vaginal microecology of candida vaginitis and bacterial vaginitis was significantly different.
Conclusion: Triazoles resistant Candida species have emerged, leading to the failure of empirical anti-infective therapy. At the same time, the vaginal microecology of candida vaginitis and bacterial vaginitis was significantly different. In addition, a new breakpoint for Candida from RVVC needs to be established.

Keywords: triazole, Candida, vulvovaginal candidiasis, vaginal microbiota