Epidemiological investigation of patients with vulvovaginal candidosis. Application of a resistogram method for strain differentiation of Candida albicans.

Abstract

SUMMARY The resistogram method was applied to 420 isolates of Candida albicans obtained from 30 selected patients undergoing treatment for vulvovaginitis. Of these, 16 patients each harboured a particular strain of C. albicans which persisted in the mouth or intestinal tract or both. In three of these patients, this strain persisted in the genital tract, and, in eight patients, it later recolonised the genital tract. Fourteen patients harboured more than one strain of C. albicans: one failed to respond to treatment and continued to harbour the same strain in the genital tract; in five the original strain later recolonised the genital tract and a second strain remained confined to the mouth or intestinal tract or both; and in three a second strain, present in the intestinal tract, later colonised the genital tract. Each of the male partners of seven patients harboured a strain of C. albicans that was identical to the strain, or to one of the strains, that had been isolated from his female partner.

Differentiation of Candida albicans Biotypes by the Method of Odds and Abbott: Differenzierung von Candida albicans‐Biotypen mit der Methode von Odds und Abbott

“…Mc Creight and Wamock (3), Wamock et al (7,8) as well as Odds and Abbott (5) found one biotype prevailing largely in the investigated group. Individuals usually harbour the same strains in all the sites investigated.…”

Interest of Biotyping Candida albicans in Chronic Vulvovaginitis

“…Furthermore, the fact that we obtained the same biotype in the gastrointestinal tract and the vagina in 73.3% of the cases confirms that the gastrointestinal tract, the main yeast reservoir, represents an endogenous source of contamination in many cases (7,17,2,9). Using the resistogram method of strain differentiation, Warnock et al (20) have demonstrated that most patients with genital candidosis also harbored the same strain of C. albicans in the digestive tract.…”

Fortnightly Review: Management of genital candidiasis

“…In the past, clinicians often attributed recurrent infection to repeated reinoculation of the genital tract from a persistent intestinal reservoir. This belief was based on the finding that patients often harbour the same strain of C albicans in the genital and intestinal tracts 22 23 24. Two controlled trials showed, however, that oral nystatin treatment, given to reduce intestinal colonisation with C albicans, failed to prevent recurrence of symptoms of vaginal infection 25 26…”

“…Moreover, strain typing methods have indicated that infected partners often harbour identical strains 22 24 28. The role of sexual transmission in vaginal infection is unknown, and topical or oral treatment of the male partner does not seem to prevent recurrence in the woman.…”