FREQUENCY AND SIGNIFICANCE OF DRUG-RESISTANCE IN VULVO-VAGINAL CANDIDIASIS

The rates of non-albicans species and susceptibility to the main antim ycotic drugs were evaluated in a series of 472 cultures of vulvar or v aginal specimens positive for Candida species. Torulopsis glabrata was associated more frequently than C. albicans with recurrent vulvovagin al candidiasis (18/40 vs. 72/379; p = 0.003, chi(2) test). As evaluate d by the results of susceptibility testing, C. albicans isolates were uniformly sensitive to the antifungals tested, whereas 7.5% (3/40) of T. glabrata strains were resistant to imidazole derivatives. All these patients had a history of repeated antimycotic treatments. Previous a ntimycotic therapies in susceptible individuals could cause a selectio n of non-albicans species, especially T. glabrata, which is occasional ly resistant to the commonly used antimycotic drugs.