Karyotyping of Candida albicans and Candida glabrata isolates from recurrent vaginal infections by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis.

In the present study, 16 women with recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC) due to Candida albicans and Candida (Torulopsis) glabrata were followed for a period of 4 to 12 months, and 36 vaginal isolates were evaluated by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Eleven women were infected by C. albicans and 5 by C. glabrata. Three electrophoretic karyotypes of C. albicans and 3 of C. glabrata were identified throughout the follow-up. All patients but one was infected with the same karyotype of C. albicans or C. glabrata during the follow-up period. Two different karyotypes of C. glabrata were identified in one patient in the course of 12 months. The results confirmed the diversity of the karyotypes of C. albicans and C. glabrata causing vulvovaginitis, and demonstrated the persistence of colonization with the same strain over different periods of time despite therapy (15/16 women).