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Candida colonization of the vagina in elderly residents of a long-term-care hospital

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Abstract

The present study was conducted in order to determine the prevalence of vaginal colonization by Candida spp in elderly residents of a long-term-care hospital and to examine the determinants of vaginal candidiasis. Vaginal swabs for Gram stain and culture were obtained from 106 bedridden residents of a long-term-care hospital (study group; mean age, 83±7 years) and a control group of 50 similarly aged women admitted to an acute-care hospital for non-genital problems (mean age, 81±8 years). The characteristics of patients who tested positive for Candida spp were compared with those who tested negative. Candida spp were isolated from 34 (32%) patients in the study group and from four (8%) control patients (p=0.001). In the study group, Candida glabrata was by far the most common species isolated (51.2%). The warm and moist environment in the perineal area created by diaper use in incontinent individuals, together with decubitus ulcers and immobilization, which are common in elderly patients receiving long-term care, might be responsible for the high occurrence of vaginal colonization with Candida in these women.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Infectious Diseases Unit, E. Wolfson Hospital, School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Holon, 58100, Israel

    M. Dan

  2. The Geriatric Medical Center, Shmuel Harofeh Hospital, Tel Aviv University School of Medicine, Beer Yaakov, Israel

    R. Segal, V. Marder & A. Leibovitz

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  1. M. Dan
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  2. R. Segal
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  3. V. Marder
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  4. A. Leibovitz
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Correspondence to M. Dan.

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Dan, M., Segal, R., Marder, V. et al. Candida colonization of the vagina in elderly residents of a long-term-care hospital. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 25, 394–396 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-006-0150-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-006-0150-y

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