Antifungal Susceptibility Patterns in Candida Spp. Isolated From Vaginal Swabs of Pregnant Women in Iraq

Abstract

Vulvovaginal infections are one of the most important health issues faced by women of reproductive age. Most of the cases are caused by bacteria and fungi Candida albicans. The purpose of the study is to monitor the demographic pattern of vaginal infections in pregnant women and check the susceptibility of fungi against antifungal agents, which is of great concern in today’s world with increasing drug resistance. One hundred vaginal swabs were collected from pregnant women in different areas of different cities, and the women were distributed in different age groups. The isolates were identified, and 30 fungal isolates of Candida albicans were subjected to antifungal susceptibility testing with antifungal agents such as clotrimazole, amphotericin B, nystatin, itraconazole, fluconazole, and caspofengin. MDR is the ability of an isolate to resist three or more of the most commonly used agents. The most important part of the study is the prevalence rate, which is 60% in the case of bacterial infections and 40% in the case of fungal infections. Demographic distribution: The highest affected groups were between the ages of 31-40, followed by the 18-30 age group, while the least affected were in the 41-60 age group. It was noted that the rural population was the highest affected by the disease. Clotrimazole and Amphotericin B had the highest sensitivity rates of 33.3%. Nystatin had an average effect of (26.7%), while Itraconazole had the least effectiveness of (3.3%), results showed total resistance (100%) to fluconazole and caspofengin. All Candida samples were resistant to three or more drugs, thus classified as multidrug-resistant.