The Correlation between Candida sp. Contamination in the Bathroom Water and Candidiasis Incidence

Abstract

Candida is a fungus which caused candidiasis in women, with a vaginal discharge as the main sign. One of the proposed source of infection is water which is use to clean themself. Little is known regarding the role of water as the source of infection in vaginal candidiasis. The aim of this study are to know how much Candida sp. detected on vaginal discharge and contaminated the bathroom water and to prove whether Candida sp.contaminated bathroom water can be a source of infection for patients with vaginal candidiasis based on relative risk.This study were conducted in 32 women with candidiasis and 32 water samples from their bathroom. Vaginal discharge were taken by sterile swab and inoculated into Sabouraud Dextrosa Agar. 10 ml bathroom water samples from each water container in their house were taken by sterile syringe and also inoculated into Sabouraud Dextrosa Agar.Twenty-five (78%) vaginal discharge are positive Candida sp.. Bathroom water are contaminated with Candida sp.as much as 62.5%. Seventeen (53,1%) samples are positive Candida sp. both from vaginal discharge and bathroom water. Subject with positive Candida sp. from bathroom water, have a risk 2.83 times to suffer Candidasis than Subject without Candida sp.. from bathroom water (Candida sp. negative)

Keywords: Candida sp., Candidiasis, Bathroom water