Recurrent vulvo-vaginal candidiasis is a major issue in pubescent females because of the fact that it is a source of health discomfort. For a better medical treatment, an analysis of susceptibility of Candida species to antifungal agents is fundamental. Therefore, this study aims to determine the susceptibility of Candida spp. to antifungal agents isolated in recurrent vulvo-vaginal candidiasis. This crosssectional study was carried out in 2014 among 400 women with vaginal discharge. The recurrent vulvovaginitis was defined by the occurrence four times at least in a year. Vaginal swabs were cultured on Sabouraud-chloramphenicol medium, and Candida spp. were identified using a chromogenic technique. Susceptibility testing was performed using a microdilution method. In vitro susceptibility to antifungal agents test was performed using amphotericin B, 5-fluorocytosine, fluconazole, itraconazole and voriconazole against isolated Candida spp. Of 94 women positive from Candida spp., Candida albicans (59.6%) was the most prevalent with 59.6%. C. albicans did not show any resistance to amphotericin B and voriconazole. The susceptibility Candida glabrata to itraconazole was 50% and this species was relatively susceptible to fluconazole (77.8%) and voriconazole (83.3%). The medical treatment of recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis requires a precise diagnosis based on a mycological analysis and the susceptibility to antifungal drugs.

Superficial candidiasis is a real public health problem, especially in immunocompromised people and HIV-infected patients. Due to the toxic handicap and the high cost of antifungal drug treatment, people use medicinal plants, which are relatively more accessible. Medicinal plants are an important source of novel antimicrobial agents. This study aims to determine the in vitro antimicrobial activity of aqueous and methanolic extracts from different parts of plants species against Candida albicans. Six plants species from the flora of Côte d'Ivoire were screened for anticandidal activities by ethnobotanical study. These plants species were: Bridelia ferruginea, Citrus aurantium, Pycnanthus angolensis, Desmodium adscendens, Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides Lam. and Mareya micrantha L. Methanolic and aqueous extracts from the powder of leaves and/or barks samples of each species were tested using the bioautographic method in F254 glass silica gel plate, with Miconazole as reference. Bioautography assay was used to account antifungal compounds in plant extracts. Bridelia ferruginea, Pycnanthus angolensis, and Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides Lam showed good activity. The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) values against Candida albicans ranged between 12.5 and 100 mg/ml. Bioautography results demonstrated that active chemical compounds of the alcoholic extracts of the plants (flavonoids, alcaloids, polyterpenes, polyphenols and sterols) were responsible for antimicrobial activity. The Ivorian pharmacopoeia is full of medicinal remedies. Three plants of our study have shown a good activity on strains of Candida albicans.