Direct impression on agar surface as a diagnostic sampling procedure for candida balanitis.

Area of Science:

• Mycology
• Dermatology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Accurate diagnosis of candida balanitis requires both clinical and mycological evidence.
• The method of sample collection is crucial for confirming or excluding candida balanitis.
• Current diagnostic approaches may be limited by sample collection techniques.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of direct glans impression on agar versus cotton swab for diagnosing candida balanitis.
• To compare yeast recovery rates between two distinct sample collection methods.

Main Methods:

• A prospective cross-sectional study involving 478 men (balanitis patients and asymptomatic controls) over 36 months.
• Yeast cultures were obtained from the glans penis and inner preputial layer.
• Two methods were used: direct impression on CHROMagar candida medium and collection with a sterile cotton swab.

Main Results:

• Candida balanitis prevalence was 17.8% (85/478) via direct impression; swabs detected only 63.5% of these cases.
• In asymptomatic men, 12.5% (36/289) yielded Candida spp., with swabs detecting only 38.9%.
• Over 10 candida colonies by direct impression correlated with an 8.9-fold increased risk of candida balanitis.

Conclusions:

• Direct impression on CHROMagar candida medium yields the highest Candida spp. recovery rate.
• The presence of >10 colonies via impression culture is statistically linked to candida balanitis.
• Direct impression is the preferred method for male genital yeast sampling in balanitis management.