Prevalence of Vaginal Candidiasis among women and Diagnosis of Candida species from vaginal infection in Kirkuk city

Vaginal candidiasis is a common complaint among women of different age groups in any society whether or not they are sexually active. Although it is both treatable and mild, when left untreated, The study was set to detect Candida organisms in women vaginal. A prospective study of women vaginal swabs collected from Gynecological Clinic in Azadi teaching Hospital and some privet clinical in Kirkuk city and a total of two hundred   (200) women swab were  analysed for microscopy and culture, from May 2014 to April 2015. Data on epidemiologic indices were collected from the patients, using structured interviewer-administered questionnaires. fifty- seven positive cultures were obtained, constituting 28.5% (n = 57) in a total of 200 women vaginal samples. A total of 28.5% (n= 57) isolates were detected which comprises four different Candida species, namely Candida albicans, C. glabrata, C. krusei and C. kefyre respectively as well as isolated Cryptococcus lorynti with frequency of  occurrence of 23%, 2%, 1.5%, o.5% and 1.5% respectively. The isolates were related to age, the age range of 26-35 years had the highest incidence (35%), followed by age range of 36-45 years (29.5%) and 56-88 years had the least (2%) percentage of occurrence. The isolates were also related to used contraceptives, copper-T contraceptives and combined oral contraceptives 41.5% was the most common methods used by recurrent vaginitis patients while the male condom contraceptives users had lower cure (26.5%). The distribution of vaginal candidiasis according  antibiotic using was highest in women take antibiotic with 64.4% of the total 200 cases, while the women don’t take antibiotic was recorded lowest occurrence (35.5%). The result shows that Candida species has assumed the role of the most common cause of vaginitis, with Candida albicans as the most prevalent species. vaginal candidiasis was common in the young adults o age range of 26-35 years, contraceptive , broad spectrum antibiotic users ,other diseases and operation .We therefore recommend prevention, early diagnosis and prompt treatment of vaginal candidiasis especially among the risk groups in order to avert its complications.