Vulvovaginal Candidiasis Caused by Non-albicans Candida Species: New Insights

Non-albicans Candida species have increasingly been identified as the cause of vulvovaginitis. In vitro and in vivo data indicate that the various non-albicans Candida species identified in the lower genital tract differ considerably with regard to epidemiology, virulence or vaginal pathogenicity, and antimycotic drug susceptibility. Clinical experience indicates reduced virulence of these organisms in the lower genital tract, and their causal role in a symptomatic patient requires careful case-by-case determination rather than routine administration of antimycotic therapy. Accordingly, vaginal Candida isolates deserve species identification and consideration of pathogenic potential and antifungal susceptibility before therapeutic decisions are made.