Incidence of vulvovaginal candidiasis associated with Candida albicans among pregnant women attending Gombe State Specialist Hospital, Gombe, Nigeria

Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is a common cause of vaginitis during pregnancy. It is a source of great physical and psychological discomfort as well as suffering. Samples of endocervical and high vaginal swab were collected from 150 women attending Gombe specialist hospital and were inoculated on Saboraud Dextrose Agar (SDA) incorporated with  Chloramphenicol to rid the culture of bacterial contaminants. Gram’s staining technique and Germ tube test were employed for the identification, as, Candida albicans is positive for both. The gram positive ones were 132 (88%) and were also subjected to germ tube test. 18 (12%) were found to be gram negative. Of the gram positive ones, 120 (91%) were also positive for germ tube test; confirming the presence of Candida albicans . Antifungal susceptibility testing revealed that Ketoconazole was more effective at concentrations of 20, 50 and 100ig/disc with zones of inhibitions of 18.50, 23.50 and 35.50mm respectively, than Griseofulvin (Fulcin) with only 26.00mm zone of inhibition at 100ig/disc concentration. Keywords : Vulvovaginal, Endocervical, High vaginal swab, Antifungal susceptibility, Candida albicans .