Is there a role for fluconazole in the treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis?

Antifungal drug resistance pattern of Candida. spp isolated from vaginitis in Ilam-Iran during 2013-2014

Vaginal Candidiasis is the most common and important opportunistic fungal infection in women. By increasing use of antifungal drugs in recent years, it has caused drug resistance. This study aims to evaluate antifungal drugs susceptibility of Candida. spp isolated of women with vaginitis from Ilam-Iran during 2013-2014. samples were collected and cultured from 385 women with vaginitis, then Candida.spp was diagnosed by standard method. Antifungal drug susceptibility test for nystatin 100 unit/disk, fluconazole 10µg/disk, itraconazole 10µg/disk, ketoconazole 10µg/disk, amphotericinB 20µg/disk, clotrimazole 10µg/disk, posaconazole 5µg/disk, and voriconazole 1µg/disk were carried out by M44-A method(CLSI). From all culture positive samples, 150 isolates were Candida albicans and 89 isolates were non-albicans. The resistance to fluconazole, itraconazole, ketoconazole, clotrimazole, voriconazole, posaconazole, nystatin and amphotericin B was 76%, 62%, 72%, 55%, 6%, 7%, 1% and 0%. The highest resistance was seen for fluconazole , itraconazole, and the highest susceptible was seen for nystatin and amphotericin B. These results indicate nystatin and amphotericin B can be used as the first line for empirical therapy of vaginal candidiasis in the district.

Systemic vs. topical therapy for the treatment of Vulvovaginal Candidiasis

It is estimated that 75% of all women will experience at least 1 episode of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) during their lifetimes. Most patients with acute VVC can be treated with short-term regimens that optimize compliance. Since current topical and oral antifungals have shown comparably high efficacy rates, other issues should be considered in determining the most appropriate therapy. It is possible that the use of short-duration narrow-spectrum agents may increase selection of more resistant organisms which will result in an increase of recurrent VVC (RVVC). Women who are known or suspected to be pregnant and women of childbearing age who are not using a reliable means of contraception should receive topical therapy, as should those who are breast-feeding or receiving drugs that can interact with an oral azole and those who have previously experienced adverse effects during azole therapy. Because of the potential risks associated with systemic treatment, topical therapy with a broad-spectrum agent should be the method of choice for VVC, whereas systemic therapy should be reserved for either RVVC or cases where the benefits outweigh any possible adverse reactions.

Species-specific prevalence of vaginal candidiasis among patients with diabetes mellitus and its relation to their glycaemic status

OBJECTIVES

Non- C. albicans Candida species are increasingly being recognized as the cause of vulvo-vaginal candidiasis. These species are often less susceptible to antifungal agents. Patients with diabetes mellitus are at risk for vulvo-vaginal candidasis. We assessed the species-specific prevalence rate and risk of candidiasis in patients with diabetes mellitus and healthy controls.

METHODS

Genital tract examination, direct microscopy and fungal cultures of discharge collected by high vaginal swab were undertaken among 78 consecutive patients with diabetes mellitus (mean (+/-sd) age 32+/-12 years and body mass index (BMI) 22.3+/-5.5kg/m(2)) and 88 age- and BMI-matched healthy females. Glycaemic control in the diabetic cohort was assessed by measuring total glycosylated haemoglobin.

RESULTS

Candida species were isolated in 36 of 78 (46%) subjects with diabetes mellitus and in 21 of 88 (23%) healthy subjects (Chi-squared 9.11, P=0.0025). The predominant Candida species isolated in diabetics with vulvo-vaginal candidiasis were Candida glabrata (39%), C. albicans (26%) and C. tropicalis (17%). In contrast, in the control group, C. albicans, C. glabrata and C. hemulonii comprised 30% each, with none having C. tropicalis infection (for C. tropicalis: diabetic vs. control; 17% vs. nil, P=0. 05). Among the diabetic group, subjects with vulvo-vaginal candidiasis had significantly higher mean HbA1 when compared to those who had no such infection (12.8+/-2.6% vs. 9.7+/-1.7% respectively, P=0.001). The overall accuracy of direct microscopy and clinical examination for predicting vulvo-vaginal candidiasis was only 77% and 51%, respectively, in the diabetic group, and 83% and 65% in the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with diabetes mellitus had a high prevalence rate (46%) of vulvo-vaginal candidiasis with relative risk of 2.45. The non- C. albicans species such as C. glabrata and C. tropicalis were the predominant species isolated among them. There seems to be a significant link between hyperglycaemia and vulvo-vaginal candidiasis.

Comparison of the efficacy and safety of oral fluconazole and topical clotrimazole in patients with candida balanitis

One hundred fifty seven men with candidal balanitis were entered in a randomised, open-label parallel-group multicentre study comparing efficacy and safety of a single oral 150-mg fluconazole-dose with clotrimazole applied topically twice daily for 7 days. Of 64 fluconazole and 68 clotrimazole treated patients who were evaluable at short term follow up, 92% and 91% respectively were clinically cured or improved. Candida albicans was eradicated in 78% and 83% of patients respectively. Median time to relief of erythema was 6 days for fluconazole and 7 days for clotrimazole. Twelve of 15 patients who had received previous topical therapy for balanitis said they preferred oral therapy. At the one month follow up visit, 24/36 and 29/33 patients in the two groups were clinically cured or improved. Nine in the fluconazole group experienced a relapse; 6 of these 9 patients reported previous episodes of this infection during the past year. Two patients in the clotrimazole group had a relapse; neither had a history of previous episodes. Mycological eradication was noted in 26/36 and 25/33 patients in the two groups. Both treatment regimens were well tolerated. Thus a single 150 mg dose of fluconazole was comparable in efficacy and safety to clotrimazole cream applied topically for 7 days when administered to patients with balanitis.

Fluconazole. An update of its antimicrobial activity, pharmacokinetic properties, and therapeutic use in vaginal candidiasis

Fluconazole is a bis-triazole antifungal drug which has a pharmacokinetic profile characterised by its high water solubility, low affinity for plasma proteins, and metabolic stability. After a single 150 mg oral dose, therapeutic concentrations in vaginal secretions are rapidly achieved and are sustained for a duration sufficient to produce high clinical and mycological responses in nonimmunocompromised patients with vaginal candidiasis (candidosis). At this dosage, clinical and mycological responses have compared favourably with responses achieved after multiple dose regimens of other oral and intravaginal antifungal agents. Clinical efficacy rates have ranged between 92 and 99% at short term evaluation (5 days post-treatment). At 80 to 100 days post-treatment clinical efficacy rates of 91% have been reported. In addition, limited data indicate that fluconazole is more effective than placebo as prophylactic treatment of frequently recurring vaginal candidiasis. Single oral doses of fluconazole 150 mg are well tolerated. Most frequently observed adverse events are gastrointestinal symptoms, which are generally mild and transient in nature. Thus, fluconazole is a valuable alternative to established systemic and intravaginal azole antifungal drugs which are used to treat vaginal candidiasis. Moreover, in view of its favourable patient acceptability and compliance profile compared with alternative treatments, single-dose oral fluconazole should be considered as a first-line therapeutic choice for the treatment of women with vaginal candidiasis.

Placebo-controlled trial of itraconazole for treatment of acute vaginal candidiasis

Itraconazole is a new orally active triazole antifungal agent with enhanced activity against Candida species. In the clinical trial described in this paper, we compared the efficacy and safety of itraconazole capsules with those of clotrimazole vaginal tablets and placebo oral capsules for women with acute vulvovaginal candidiasis. Ninety-five patients were randomized in a 2:1:1 fashion to receive itraconazole (200 mg/day), clotrimazole (200 mg/day), or placebo (two capsules per day) for 3 consecutive days. Clinical success rates (cure and improvement) were similar for women who received itraconazole (96%) and clotrimazole (100%) 1 week posttreatment. These response rates were statistically superior to those obtained with placebo treatment (77%, P < 0.05). Negative mycological cultures were found in 95, 73, and 32% of the patients treated with clotrimazole, itraconazole, and placebo, respectively (P < 0.005) [active treatments versus placebo]). By 4 weeks posttreatment, the clinical failure rate for itraconazole was less than that observed for clotrimazole (17 versus 30%), but this difference did not reach statistical significance (P > 0.05; beta = 0.81). Mycological response rates for itraconazole and clotrimazole were also similar. No patients enrolled in this study discontinued treatment because of an adverse event. Minor side effects were reported by 35, 4, and 41% of patients who received itraconazole, clotrimazole, and placebo, respectively. The most common side effects associated with itraconazole therapy were nausea and headache. In summary, itraconazole was found to be as effective and safe as clotrimazole in women with acute candida vaginitis. Moreover, oral therapy was highly favored over intravaginal treatment in our survey of patients.