Mohammad. H. A. Hassan¹, Mady. A. Ismail¹, Ahmed. M. Moharram Ahmed. M. Shoreit^1,

During 12 months’ the period of study from December 2015 to November 2016, one hundred and sixty women were clinically examined for vaginal yeast infection. Result revealed that 100 cases (62.5%) proved to have vaginal infection. The mean age (±SD) of the participants was 27.70±5.79 years. Most of the positive cases with high count belonged to the age group1 (19-25 year) followed by group 2 (26-30 year) representing 39 and 32 cases respectively (71 % of the total cases). Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of the yeast isolates showed that C. albicans were the predominant Candida species 258 cfu out of 410 cfu represent (62.9%) followed by C. lusitaniae (56 cfu, 13.7%), C. krusei (44 cfu 10.7%), C. glabrata (26 cfu, 6.3%), C. tropicalis (18 cfu, 4.4%) and C. Parapsilosis (8 cfu, 2.0%) respectively. In-vitro sensitivity test showed high resistance to the tested antifungals; whereas 73 isolates out of 128 (57.3%) were resistant to more than one type of tested antifungal agents, including 14 isolates showed resistance to all antifungal agents (Multidrug resistant strains). C. albicans represented by 67 isolates, showed resistance to one or more of the tested antifungal agents such as Fluconazole (61.2 %), Ketoconazole (56.7 %), Amphotericin B (52.2), Itraconazole and Nystatin (43.3 %). In case of non- albicans isolate (61 isolate) the most effective antifungal agent was Nystatin were it susceptible 65 % form C. lusitaniae isolates, 62.5 % from C. tropicalis and 60 % from C. Krusei isolates. The relation between risk factors, such as pregnancy, diabetes mellitus, history of antibiotic uses, and contraceptive methods, was recorded.

vulvovaginal candidiasis, antifungal agents, multidrug resistant, phenotypic and genotypic characterization