Publication:

Vaginal Candida colonization, species distribution, associated factors and antifungal susceptibility patterns among women attending Bowen University Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso

Background Vaginal colonization by Candida species is prevalent among women and may serve as risk factor to vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC), especially when the vaginal microbiota is disrupted. However, the prevalence of vaginal Candida colonization (VCC), associated risk factors, and antifungal patterns remain limited in Nigerian settings. This study aimed to determine the prevalence, associated factors, and antifungal patterns of vaginal Candida isolated among women attending Bowen University Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, Nigeria.

Methods This hospital-based cross-sectional study enrolled 176 consenting symptomatic and asymptomatic women between June and November, 2025. Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire and High vaginal swabs (HVS) were collected from participants. The HVS samples were examined using microscopy, culture on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar, CHROMagar, and Internal Transcribed Spacer-Polymerase Chain Reaction (ITS-PCR) for confirmation of Candida. Antifungal profiling was assessed by disk diffusion on Mueller-Hinton agar supplemented with glucose and methylene blue. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26, with statistical significance set at p≤0.05.

Results Among the 176 participants, 48(27.3%) participants were positive for VCC.  Candida parapsilosis was the most frequent isolate, 25/48 (52.1%). In multivariate analysis, vaginal discharge (AOR=4.971, 95% CI: 1.485-16.646, p=0.009) and pregnancy (AOR=5.584, 95% CI: 1.344-23.209, p=0.018) were a strong significant predictor of Candida colonization. C. parapsilosis significantly emerged to be the most resistant to fluconazole (25(54.3%) (p=0.008).

Conclusions VCC was common in this population, with predominance of C. parapsilosis. These findings provide local evidence supporting routine laboratory identification of Candida and antifungal testing, particularly in suspected, recurrent, persistent, or complicated VVC.