RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Effect of Antibiotics on Vulvovaginal Candidiasis: A MetroNet Study
JF The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine
JO J Am Board Fam Med
FD American Board of Family Medicine
SP 261
OP 268
DO 10.3122/jabfm.2008.04.070169
VO 21
IS 4
A1 Xu, Jinping
A1 Schwartz, Kendra
A1 Bartoces, Monina
A1 Monsur, Joseph
A1 Severson, Richard K.
A1 Sobel, Jack D.
YR 2008
UL http://www.jabfm.org/content/21/4/261.abstract
AB Purpose: Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is believed common after systemic antibiotic therapy, yet few studies demonstrate this association. In this pilot study, we evaluate the effect of short-course oral antibiotic use on VVC.Methods: Nonpregnant women aged 18 to 64 years who required ≥3 days oral antibiotics for nongynecological diseases were recruited from a family medicine office. Age-matched (±5 years) women seen in the same clinic for noninfectious problems were recruited as controls. The main outcomes are incidence of symptomatic VVC and prevalence of positive vaginal Candida culture 4 to 6 weeks after antibiotics.Results: Eighty (44 in antibiotic group) women were recruited; 14 of 79 (95% CI, 0.11–0.28) had asymptomatic vaginal Candida cultures positive at baseline. During follow-up, 10 of 27 (95% CI, 0.22–0.56) women in antibiotic group were Candida culture positive. In contrast, 3 of 27 (95% CI, 0.04–0.28) women in the control group were Candida culture positive (relative risk, 3.33; P = .03). Meanwhile, 6 of 27 (95% CI, 0.11–0.41) women in antibiotic group developed symptomatic VVC whereas none (95% CI, 0–0.12) of the women in the control group developed vaginal symptoms (relative risk, ∞; P = .02). Baseline Candida culture did not predict subsequent symptomatic VVC after antibiotics.Conclusion: In this pilot study, the use of short courses of oral antibiotics seems to increase prevalence of asymptomatic vaginal Candida colonization and incidence of symptomatic VVC. Larger cohort studies are needed to confirm these findings.