Azole Resistance and Detection of the ERG11 Gene in Clinical Candida albicans Isolated from Pregnant Women with Vulvovaginitis Attending Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

Introduction:Candida albicansis one of the most important aetiological agents causing vaginal candidiasis in pregnant women.Most women will experience at least one episode during their reproductive years. Antifungal resistance is a particular problem with Candida infections. Some types of Candida are increasingly resistant to the first-line and second-line antifungal medications.Objective:To investigate the azole susceptibility of Candida albicans(C. albicans) from pregnant vulvovaginal candidiasis patients and to detect ERG11gene in these azole resistance isolates.Methods:Forty-one clinical isolates of C. albicanswere collected. Azole susceptibility was tested in vitrousing microdilution techniques.The ERG11genes of 27 isolates of C. albicans(All resistant to azoles) were amplified using PCR method: