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Single-pathogen and Mixed Vulvovaginal Infections Among Women of Reproductive Age Consulting Gynecologists: A Cross-Sectional Study

Received: 7 September 2021     Accepted: 23 September 2021     Published: 12 October 2021
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Abstract

Vulvovaginal infections are a public health problem that accounts for 20% of gynecological consultations. However, there are no clear data on the prevalence of the different types of vulvovaginal infections, including vaginal mixed infections, that make women seek care from gynecologists. We aimed to determine the prevalence of vulvovaginal infections and to evaluate the therapeutic approach of symptomatic women of reproductive age consulting gynecologists. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 103 women with vulvovaginitis of probable infectious etiology at 25 gynecology outpatient clinics. Women underwent clinical diagnosis following standard clinical practice. Signs and symptoms were registered as well as the therapeutic strategy prescribed by the gynecologists and self-treatment habits of the women before consultation. A microbiological culture of the vaginal discharge was performed in all women to confirm the diagnosis. According to the microbiological studies, 68% of women had an infection, being candidiasis the most prevalent (54.3%), followed by bacterial vaginosis (25.7%), mixed infection (14.3%), and nonspecific vulvovaginitis (5.7%). Most of the candidiasis involved a single pathogen, however 19.4% were mixed infections also involving other pathogens. Leukorrhea and pruritus were the most prevalent symptoms (82.5% and 81.6% respectively). Mixed infections produced vaginal odor changes more often than single candidiasis (40% vs. 24%). Among the 103 women, 71.8% received pharmacological treatments, mostly antifungals, being fenticonazole the most frequently prescribed; 48.5% received nonpharmacological treatments, either alone or as adjuvant therapy. Candidiasis is the most prevalent vulvovaginal infection in symptomatic women of reproductive age consulting gynecologists. Candidiasis usually presents as a single-pathogen infection, but additional pathogens may coexist in many women. Clinical diagnosis of mixed infections is challenging because the most prevalent symptoms are the same as for candidiasis, so prescription of antifungals with a broad spectrum of antimycotic and antimicrobial activity is an adequate alternative for women.

Published in International Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology (Volume 6, Issue 4)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijmb.20210604.11
Page(s) 95-103
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Antifungals, Bacterial Vaginosis, Gynecology, Mixed Infection, Pruritus, Vulvovaginal Candidiasis, Vulvovaginitis

References
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Javier García Pérez-Llantada, Ana Rosa Masero, Jesús Lázaro-Carrasco, María José Carballo, Francisca Ridocci, et al. (2021). Single-pathogen and Mixed Vulvovaginal Infections Among Women of Reproductive Age Consulting Gynecologists: A Cross-Sectional Study. International Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology, 6(4), 95-103. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijmb.20210604.11

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    ACS Style

    Javier García Pérez-Llantada; Ana Rosa Masero; Jesús Lázaro-Carrasco; María José Carballo; Francisca Ridocci, et al. Single-pathogen and Mixed Vulvovaginal Infections Among Women of Reproductive Age Consulting Gynecologists: A Cross-Sectional Study. Int. J. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 2021, 6(4), 95-103. doi: 10.11648/j.ijmb.20210604.11

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    AMA Style

    Javier García Pérez-Llantada, Ana Rosa Masero, Jesús Lázaro-Carrasco, María José Carballo, Francisca Ridocci, et al. Single-pathogen and Mixed Vulvovaginal Infections Among Women of Reproductive Age Consulting Gynecologists: A Cross-Sectional Study. Int J Microbiol Biotechnol. 2021;6(4):95-103. doi: 10.11648/j.ijmb.20210604.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijmb.20210604.11,
      author = {Javier García Pérez-Llantada and Ana Rosa Masero and Jesús Lázaro-Carrasco and María José Carballo and Francisca Ridocci and Manuel Sosa and Miguel González and Pedro Azumendi and María Palma and Concepción Nieto},
      title = {Single-pathogen and Mixed Vulvovaginal Infections Among Women of Reproductive Age Consulting Gynecologists: A Cross-Sectional Study},
      journal = {International Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology},
      volume = {6},
      number = {4},
      pages = {95-103},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijmb.20210604.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijmb.20210604.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijmb.20210604.11},
      abstract = {Vulvovaginal infections are a public health problem that accounts for 20% of gynecological consultations. However, there are no clear data on the prevalence of the different types of vulvovaginal infections, including vaginal mixed infections, that make women seek care from gynecologists. We aimed to determine the prevalence of vulvovaginal infections and to evaluate the therapeutic approach of symptomatic women of reproductive age consulting gynecologists. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 103 women with vulvovaginitis of probable infectious etiology at 25 gynecology outpatient clinics. Women underwent clinical diagnosis following standard clinical practice. Signs and symptoms were registered as well as the therapeutic strategy prescribed by the gynecologists and self-treatment habits of the women before consultation. A microbiological culture of the vaginal discharge was performed in all women to confirm the diagnosis. According to the microbiological studies, 68% of women had an infection, being candidiasis the most prevalent (54.3%), followed by bacterial vaginosis (25.7%), mixed infection (14.3%), and nonspecific vulvovaginitis (5.7%). Most of the candidiasis involved a single pathogen, however 19.4% were mixed infections also involving other pathogens. Leukorrhea and pruritus were the most prevalent symptoms (82.5% and 81.6% respectively). Mixed infections produced vaginal odor changes more often than single candidiasis (40% vs. 24%). Among the 103 women, 71.8% received pharmacological treatments, mostly antifungals, being fenticonazole the most frequently prescribed; 48.5% received nonpharmacological treatments, either alone or as adjuvant therapy. Candidiasis is the most prevalent vulvovaginal infection in symptomatic women of reproductive age consulting gynecologists. Candidiasis usually presents as a single-pathogen infection, but additional pathogens may coexist in many women. Clinical diagnosis of mixed infections is challenging because the most prevalent symptoms are the same as for candidiasis, so prescription of antifungals with a broad spectrum of antimycotic and antimicrobial activity is an adequate alternative for women.},
     year = {2021}
    }
    

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    T1  - Single-pathogen and Mixed Vulvovaginal Infections Among Women of Reproductive Age Consulting Gynecologists: A Cross-Sectional Study
    AU  - Javier García Pérez-Llantada
    AU  - Ana Rosa Masero
    AU  - Jesús Lázaro-Carrasco
    AU  - María José Carballo
    AU  - Francisca Ridocci
    AU  - Manuel Sosa
    AU  - Miguel González
    AU  - Pedro Azumendi
    AU  - María Palma
    AU  - Concepción Nieto
    Y1  - 2021/10/12
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    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijmb.20210604.11
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijmb.20210604.11
    T2  - International Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
    JF  - International Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
    JO  - International Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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    AB  - Vulvovaginal infections are a public health problem that accounts for 20% of gynecological consultations. However, there are no clear data on the prevalence of the different types of vulvovaginal infections, including vaginal mixed infections, that make women seek care from gynecologists. We aimed to determine the prevalence of vulvovaginal infections and to evaluate the therapeutic approach of symptomatic women of reproductive age consulting gynecologists. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 103 women with vulvovaginitis of probable infectious etiology at 25 gynecology outpatient clinics. Women underwent clinical diagnosis following standard clinical practice. Signs and symptoms were registered as well as the therapeutic strategy prescribed by the gynecologists and self-treatment habits of the women before consultation. A microbiological culture of the vaginal discharge was performed in all women to confirm the diagnosis. According to the microbiological studies, 68% of women had an infection, being candidiasis the most prevalent (54.3%), followed by bacterial vaginosis (25.7%), mixed infection (14.3%), and nonspecific vulvovaginitis (5.7%). Most of the candidiasis involved a single pathogen, however 19.4% were mixed infections also involving other pathogens. Leukorrhea and pruritus were the most prevalent symptoms (82.5% and 81.6% respectively). Mixed infections produced vaginal odor changes more often than single candidiasis (40% vs. 24%). Among the 103 women, 71.8% received pharmacological treatments, mostly antifungals, being fenticonazole the most frequently prescribed; 48.5% received nonpharmacological treatments, either alone or as adjuvant therapy. Candidiasis is the most prevalent vulvovaginal infection in symptomatic women of reproductive age consulting gynecologists. Candidiasis usually presents as a single-pathogen infection, but additional pathogens may coexist in many women. Clinical diagnosis of mixed infections is challenging because the most prevalent symptoms are the same as for candidiasis, so prescription of antifungals with a broad spectrum of antimycotic and antimicrobial activity is an adequate alternative for women.
    VL  - 6
    IS  - 4
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Gynecological Center Doctor García Pérez-LLantada SL, Zaragoza, Spain

  • Centro Sur Clinic, Madrid, Spain

  • Arpa Médica Darro, Madrid, Spain

  • HM Belén Maternity, A Coru?a, Spain

  • RYD Maternity Clinic, Valencia, Spain

  • Department of Gynecology & Obstetrics, Perpetuo Socorro Hospital, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain

  • Miguel González SLP Clinic, Valencia, Spain

  • Gutenberg Gynecological Center, Málaga, Spain

  • ITF Research Pharma SLU, Madrid, Spain

  • ITF Research Pharma SLU, Madrid, Spain

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