COMPARISON OF EFFICACAY OF VAGINAL FENTICONAZOLE VS VAGINAL CLOTRIMAZOLE IN TREATMENT OF VAGINAL CANDIDIASIS

Abstract

Background: Vaginal candidiasis is a most common fungal infection of vagina, second most common after bacterial vagino¬sis. Candida albicans is the most common species constituting 85-90% of cases, producing symptoms and signs of vaginal candidiasis. With the introduction of antifungal drugs, the causative agents of candida infections shifted from C. albicans to other species.

Aims and objectives: To find the prevalence of Candida species in outdoor patients (OPD) along with the pattern of sensi¬tivity, resistance to antifungal agents and to compare the efficacy of single dose of vaginal fenticonazole with standard dose of clotrimazole.

Material and methods: In a single center (SSG Hospital, Vadodara), randomized, controlled study was initiated with patients of vaginal candidiasis who were diagnosed either by wet mount preparation or by culture technique in OPD. Two randomized groups were assigned using opaque sealed envelope method. Group A was treated with single dose vaginal fenticonazole while group B with vaginal clotrimazole for six days.

Results: Vaginal candidiasis was more prevalent in age group of 21-30 years. Candida glabrata was found to be most prev¬alent identified species among outdoor patients. During follow-up, improvement of symptoms and satisfaction score was significant in fenticonazole group. Clinically, improvement in signs of vaginal candidiasis even with positive wet mount smear on follow-up was not statistically significant between two groups.

Conclusions: The results demonstrate that treatment with single dose of fenticonazole was statistically significant in terms of improvement in symptoms and satisfaction score, compared to clotrimazole treatment. The resistance pattern of antifungal agents is helpful in treatment plan.