Microscopic features of vaginal candidiasis and their relation to symptomatology

Abstract

Objectives: To document the microscopic features of vaginal candidiasis and to examine the relation between yeast morphology and patient symptomatology. Method: The study population comprised women undergoing screening for genital infection at a department of genitourinary medicine. Results/Conclusion: Data were collected on 267 women of whom 234 were found to have vaginal candidiasis by vaginal culture. The remaining 33 patients had microscopic features of candidiasis (spores and/or hyphae) but were culture negative. Of the culture positive women, microscopy was positive in 182 (78%). 'Spores only', were identified in 65 (28%), 'hyphae only' in 16 (7%), and both 'spores and hyphae' in 101 (43%). 68% of culture positive women were symptomatic, the commonest symptoms being irritation alone (27%) or irritation plus vaginal discharge (25%). No association was found between yeast morphology (spores, budding/non-budding; hyphae, branching/non- branching) as identified on microscopy of vaginal secretions and symptomatology.