The aim of this study was to identify
Candida
species isolated from women diagnosed with recurrent vulvovaginal
candidiasis (RVVC) and their partners; and to evaluate the fluconazole (FLZ) susceptibility of the isolates. In a
period of six years, among 172 patients diagnosed with vulvovaginal candidiasis, 13 women that presented RVVC
and their partners were selected for this investigation. The isolates were obtained using Chromagar Candida medium,
the species identification was performed by phenotypic and molecular methods and FLZ susceptibility was
evaluated by E-test. Among 26 strains we identified 14
Candida albicans
, six
Candida duobushaemulonii, four
Candida glabrata
, and two
Candida tropicalis
. Agreement of the isolated species occurred in 100% of the couples. FLZ
low susceptibility was observed for all isolates of
C. duobushaemulonii (minimal inhibitory concentration values
from 8-> 64 μg/mL), two
C. glabrata isolates were FLZ-resistant and all
C. albicans and
C. tropicalis isolates were
FLZ-susceptible. This report emphasises the importance of accurate identification of the fungal agents by a reliable
molecular technique in RVVC episodes besides the lower antifungal susceptibility profile of this rare pathogen
C. duobushaemulonii to FLZ.
