Frequency of Vaginal Candidiasis among Pregnant Women with Whitish Vaginal Discharge at Bashaier Teaching Hospital

Abstract

This study was conducted during the period from March to June 2014 at Bashaier Teaching Hospital (Khartoum State). A total of hundred pregnant women suspected to have Vaginal candidiasis (VC) were enrolled in this study, their age ranged from 18 to 41 years with a mean of 29.6 years, to determine the frequency and etiology of vaginal candidiasis, which is a source of great physical, suffering and physiological discomfort; although the disease is rarely life threatening. Vaginal swabs were collected from all pregnant women, and subjected to Gram’s stain, 10% potassium hydroxide (KOH) wet mount, culture and biochemical tests for identification of pathogens. Among the total, the frequency of VC was 48 (48%), and among total isolates 28 (58%) were Candida albicans, 10 (21%) C. parapsilosis, 8 (17%) C. guilliermondii, and 2 (4%) were C. glabrata. High frequency rate of VC was observed among pregnant women in third trimester (24 (50%)), multigravida (32 (67%)), and whose ages were between 18-25 years (24 (50%)). 12 (25%) of pregnant women who had used antifungal treatment were infected with VC, and 14 (29%) of them had history of vaginal candidiasis. Culture was found an ideal approach for the diagnosis of VC, because it can differentiate between Candida species which cause the infection. There is generally a high frequency of vaginal candidiasis especially in third trimester pregnant women. Antifungal therapy is one of the important tools to cure and help in eradication of vaginal candidiasis.