Abstract
Objective:
The purpose of this study was to compare clinician microscopic diagnostic fungal species interpretation and initial prescribed therapy with vaginal fungal culture results in patients affected with vaginal fungal symptoms.
Design:
This study was a retrospective review of wet mount microscopy images.
Methods:
Wet mount microscopic images for clinician interpreter species diagnostic accuracy were retrospectively reviewed, and fungal culture results from patients with recurrent fungal colonization symptoms during a 4-year period (2006–2010) were reported.
Results:
Vaginal samples (N=153) were analyzed. Wet mount microscopy fungal species interpretation and vaginal culture results were positively correlated in only 25% of cases (p=1). The seven most common positive fungal cultures were Candida albicans 75%, Candida glabrata 14%, Candida krusei 5%, Candida parapsilosis 3%, Candida tropicalis 2%, Candida famata 1%, and Candida lusitaneae 1%.
Conclusions:
In this study, wet mount microscopic diagnostic species interpretation was poorly correlated with vaginal fungal culture result. (J GYNECOL SURG 29:135)