Candidiasis among single and married women attending Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, Kano-Nigeria

Candida species are among important opportunistic pathogens causing candidiasis in human worldwide. These yeast species are of public health concern nowadays. The study was aimed at evaluating the prevalence of candidiasis among single and married women. Clean catch midstream urine were collected from the enrolled subjects, the samples were inoculated onto Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA) and incubated at 37oC for 48h. Gram’s staining technique, germ tube test and KOH test were the techniques performed on purity plate before subculture on to Chromogenic agar for phenotypic speciation. Out of the 204 samples analysed, a prevalence of 75% was obtained. Four different Candida species were isolated; Candida albicans 52(69.33%), Candida galabrata 8(10.8%), Candida krusei 11(14.6%), and Candida tropicalis 4(5.33%). Based on the results obtained, married women were more prone to the disease 49(65.3%) with singles having 26(34.7%). According to age groups, 21-30 had highest infection rate 34(45.3%) compared to other groups. Out of the four Candida species, C. albican were more isolated 52(69.3%) while C. tropicalis had the least 4(5.33%). It is therefore important to give opportunistic pathogens like Candida species attention in women especially among married ones.