Vulvovaginal candidiasis in pregnant women in the Mère et Enfant Hospital center in Nouakchott, Mauritania

To determine the prevalence and the associated risk factors of vulvovaginal candidiasis in pregnant women in Mauritania. The study was carried out at the laboratory of the Mère et Enfant Center in Nouakchott, from November 1, 2016 to February 5, 2017. It concerned all pregnant women in the third trimester that came to the natal consultation at the gynecology service. These women must have given their informed consent in written form. After completing the survey to collect epidemiological and clinical data, a sample was collected to perform fresh direct examination and culture on Sabouraud-Chloramphenicol media. Two hundred pregnant women were included in the study. Culture on Sabouraud-Chloramphenicol media was positive in 52 patients corresponding to a prevalence of 26%. The germ tube test was positive for 61.5% of isolated Candida. Clinical signs are dominated by leucorrhea (56%), pelvic pain (25%) and vulvar pruritus (11%). Among women with positive culture, 55.76% had received local antifungal treatment in the form of an ovula during pregnancy. This study shows that vulvovaginal candidiasis is frequent in pregnant women attending gynecology at the Mère et Enfant Hospital Center in Nouakchott.