Vulvovaginal Candidiasis Epidemiology and Treatment

Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is one of the most common gynaecological infections worldwide, affecting an estimated 75 percent of women at least once in their lifetime and up to 8 percent experiencing recurrent episodes. The condition arises predominantly from overgrowth of Candida albicans but increasingly involves non-albicans species such as C. glabrata, C. krusei and C. parapsilosis, which can exhibit intrinsic antifungal resistance. Key risk factors include antibiotic use, elevated blood glucose, hormonal fluctuations, sexual activity and disruption of the vaginal microbiome. Clinically, VVC presents with pruritus, erythema and abnormal discharge; recurrent VVC imposes a substantial burden on quality of life and health-care resources. Standard treatment relies on topical or oral azoles, principally fluconazole, though rising resistance has prompted the use of boric acid, nystatin and newer agents such as oteseconazole and ibrexafungerp. Emerging strategies encompass individualised dosing regimens to minimise exposure, novel delivery systems to enhance mucosal penetration and alternative therapies that preserve lactobacilli. Integrated approaches combining accurate diagnostics, targeted antifungal choices and attention to modifiable risk factors are essential to reduce recurrence and global disease impact.

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Vulvovaginal Candidiasis Epidemiology and Treatment publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in vulvovaginal candidiasis epidemiology and treatment across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Candida albicans: A yeast species and leading cause of vulvovaginal candidiasis.

Biofilm: A structured community of microbial cells enclosed in a self-produced polymeric matrix that adheres to surfaces and confers antifungal tolerance.

Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP): A nucleic acid amplification technique operated at a constant temperature for rapid pathogen detection.

Fluconazole resistance: Reduced susceptibility of Candida species to fluconazole due to mechanisms such as efflux pump overexpression or target enzyme mutation.

Kerat­in microparticles: Protein-based carriers used to encapsulate therapeutic agents, facilitating controlled release and enhanced tissue penetration.

References

1. Development and Evaluation of Microencapsulated Oregano Essential Oil as an Alternative Treatment for Candida albicans Infections. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces (2024).
2. An Integrated and Multi-Target Nucleic Acid Isothermal Analysis System for Rapid Diagnosis of Vulvovaginal Candidiasis. Biosensors (2023).
3. Fluconazole-Resistant Vulvovaginal Candidosis: An Update on Current Management. Pharmaceutics (2024).