ABSTRACT
To compare the success rate of lactobacillus acidophilus suppositories with clotrimazole vaginal suppositories in the treatment of women with vaginal candidal infections, who were referred to selected health and treatment centers in Mashhad in 1998, this double blind prospective research was carried out in the Virology Department of Ghaem Hospital and hygiene treatment clinics of Mashhad. Seventy female patients suffering from the symptoms of candidal vaginal infections and positive culture results were randomly placed in two equal groups---lactobacillus and clotrimazole. We gave 14 lg vaginal suppositories containing 10[9] live lactobacillus to each patient in the lactobacillus group to be used twice daily for 7 days. The clotrimazole group was given six 100 mg suppositories to be used in 6 nights. The results of this study show that the rate of successful treatment, which includes negative culture after treatment with lack of disease symptoms, in the clotrimazole group was 62.9% [n=22]; and the lactobacillus acidophilous group was 85.7% [n=30]. Treatment failura, positive culture and remaining disease symptoms was 37.1% [n=13] for the clotrimazole group and 14.3% [n=5] for the lactobacillus acidophilus group. Success was meaningful in the investigated groups [p<0.05]. Data gathered in the candida study included symptoms [itching, vaginal swelling , vulva swelling, burning, and dyspareunia]; the patient's main complaint, onset of symptoms, vaginal discharge cultre results before and after treatment, history of previous vaginal infections other than candida, health notes , and intercourse during treatment time with or without use of condoms were recorded