Yeasts of the genital region of patients attending the dermatology service at Hospital São Paulo, Brazil / Levaduras de la región genital en pacientes que acuden al servicio de dermatología en el Hospital São Paulo, Brasil

Background. The knowledge of the diversity of yeasts that make up the skin microbiota of human beings is essential for the efficient monitoring of infections to which a person may be predisposed. Aims. This study identified yeasts comprising the genital skin microbiota of patients attending the Dermatology Service at the Hospital São Paulo-UNIFESP, Brazil. Methods. Samples were collected from the genital region of each patient and cultured on Sabouraud dextrose agar. Individual colonies were carefully transferred to tubes daily. Yeasts were identified based on classical methodologies and confirmed using a commercial kit. Results. Eighty-three patients were included in the study. Approximately 80% were women and 20% were men. The average age was 55 years. Hypertension, diabetes, kidney transplant and AIDS were the main underlying diseases reported by the patients. The most prevalent yeasts were Candida parapsilosis (36.1%), Rhodotorula mucilaginosa (9.2%), Rhodotorula glutinis (8.3%), Candida tropicalis (5.5%) and Trichosporon inkin (1.8%). Approximately 78% of the isolates were obtained in pure cultures. Trichosporon inkin was isolated only from women, in contrast to literature describing a high prevalence in males. Conclusions. Our results suggest that Candida albicans is not the main yeast found on genital skin as previously thought, and opportunistic pathogens such as C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis, Rhodotorula spp. and T. inkin make up the genital skin microbiota, representing a risk for infection in immunocompromised subjects. These results also indicate that women are carriers of T. inkin, the etiological agent of white piedra and trichosporonosis (AU)

Antecedentes. El conocimiento de la diversidad de las levaduras que conforman la microbiota de la piel de los seres humanos es fundamental para un eficaz seguimiento de las infecciones. Objetivos. En este estudio se identificaron las levaduras que componían la microbiota de la piel de los genitales de pacientes que acudieron al Servicio de Dermatología del Hospital São Paulo - Unifesp, Brasil. Métodos. Se recogieron muestras de la región genital de cada paciente y se cultivaron en agar dextrosa Sabouraud. Las colonias individuales se transfirieron cuidadosamente a tubos. La identificación de las levaduras se basó en metodologías clásicas y se confirmó utilizando un kit comercial. Resultados. Ochenta y tres pacientes fueron incluidos en el estudio. Aproximadamente el 80% eran mujeres y el 20% eran hombres. La edad promedio fue de 55 años. La hipertensión, la diabetes, el trasplante renal y el sida fueron las principales enfermedades subyacentes de los pacientes. Las levaduras más frecuentes fueron Candida parapsilosis (36,1%), Rhodotorula mucilaginosa (9,2%), Rhodotorula glutinis (8,3%), Candida tropicalis (5,5%) y Trichosporon inkin (1,8%). Aproximadamente el 78% de los aislamientos crecieron en cultivo puro. Trichosporon inkin fue aislado únicamente en mujeres, en contra de la literatura que describe una alta prevalencia en los hombres. Conclusiones. Nuestros resultados sugieren que Candida albicans no es la principal levadura que se encuentra en la piel de los genitales, como se pensaba, y los agentes patógenos oportunistas C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis, Rhodotorula spp. y T. inkin conforman la microflora de la piel genital, lo que representa un riesgo inminente de infección para los pacientes inmunocomprometidos. Estos resultados también indican que las mujeres son portadoras del agente etiológico de la piedra blanca y de la tricosporonosis, T. inkin (AU)

Yeasts of the genital region of patients attending the dermatology service at Hospital São Paulo, Brazil.

BACKGROUND: The knowledge of the diversity of yeasts that make up the skin microbiota of human beings is essential for the efficient monitoring of infections to which a person may be predisposed. AIMS: This study identified yeasts comprising the genital skin microbiota of patients attending the Dermatology Service at the Hospital São Paulo-UNIFESP, Brazil. METHODS: Samples were collected from the genital region of each patient and cultured on Sabouraud dextrose agar. Individual colonies were carefully transferred to tubes daily. Yeasts were identified based on classical methodologies and confirmed using a commercial kit. RESULTS: Eighty-three patients were included in the study. Approximately 80% were women and 20% were men. The average age was 55 years. Hypertension, diabetes, kidney transplant and AIDS were the main underlying diseases reported by the patients. The most prevalent yeasts were Candida parapsilosis (36.1%), Rhodotorula mucilaginosa (9.2%), Rhodotorula glutinis (8.3%), Candida tropicalis (5.5%) and Trichosporon inkin (1.8%). Approximately 78% of the isolates were obtained in pure cultures. Trichosporon inkin was isolated only from women, in contrast to literature describing a high prevalence in males. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that Candida albicans is not the main yeast found on genital skin as previously thought, and opportunistic pathogens such as C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis, Rhodotorula spp. and T. inkin make up the genital skin microbiota, representing a risk for infection in immunocompromised subjects. These results also indicate that women are carriers of T. inkin, the etiological agent of white piedra and trichosporonosis.