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

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...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:European journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases 2006-06, Vol.25 (6), p.394-396
Main Authors: DAN, M, SEGAL, R, MARDER, V, LEIBOVITZ, A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Biological and medical sciences
Candida - isolation & purification
Candidiasis - epidemiology
Candidiasis - microbiology
Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal - epidemiology
Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal - microbiology
Colonization
Female
Humans
Infectious diseases
Long-Term Care
Medical sciences
Prevalence
Urine
Vagina - microbiology
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary: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.
ISSN:0934-9723
1435-4373
DOI:10.1007/s10096-006-0150-y