Diagnosis of candidal colpitis using a semiliquid culture medium

Semiliquid culture medium is commonly used in the diagnosis of vaginal Candida albicans and Trichomonas vaginalis infection. In the present study growth of Candida albicans in a medium inoculated with vaginal smear specimens and experimental cultures was evaluated. As a laboratory experiment, pH, pO2, and pCO2 were determined in different regions of the cultures. In the clinical part of the study agreement of clinical findings and Candida albicans cultures was evaluated in the diagnosis of Candidal colpitis. The results showed that in the semiliquid culture medium in the case of scant samples single Candida albicans colonies could clearly be visualized. When the inoculum was heavy no single colonies were seen and the strongest growth took place in a narrow ring in the middle region of the tube. This is because of favourable partial oxygen and carbon dioxide pressures in this zone. In clinical samples the culture demonstrated both Candida albicans vaginitis and normal Candidal flora of the vagina. Comparison with culture results and clinical evaluations indicate that 10 Candida albicans colonies or less in the semiliquid media indicate normal flora and over 10 colonies indicate a Candida albicans colpitis.