Phenotypic Detection of Genitourinary Candidiasis among Sexually Transmitted Disease Clinic Attendees in Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, Nigeria

Abstract

The management of genitourinary candidiasis (GC) is fraught with challenges, especially, in an era of increasing antifungal resistance. This descriptive cross-sectional study conducted between May 2013 and January 2014 determined the prevalence and characteristics of GC and the species ofCandidaamong 369 attendees of a Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) clinic of Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, Nigeria. Appropriate urogenital specimen collected from each attendee was examined by microscopy and culture forCandida, with preliminary species identification by CHROMAgarCandidaand confirmation by Analytical Profile Index (API) 20C AUX. The age range of attendees was 1-80 years, mean age was36.32±11.34years, and male to female ratio was 1 to 3. The prevalence of genitourinary candidiasis was 47.4%, with 4.9% in males and 42.5% in females (p<0.0001). The age groups 31–45 and 16–30 have the highest prevalence of 23.3% and 16.8%, respectively. The species ofCandidarecovered includeCandida glabrata46.9%,Candida albicans33.7%,Candida dubliniensis9.7%,Candida tropicalis5.7%,Candida krusei1.7%,Candida lusitaniae1.7%, andCandida utilis0.6%. This study reported non-C. albicansCandida, especiallyC. glabrata,as the most frequently isolated species in GC, contrary to previous studies in this environment and elsewhere.