Species distribution and influence of glycemic control on fungal infections in pregnant women with diabetes

Objectives. (1) To find the distribution of species among fungal strains isolated from pregnant women with diabetes mellitus (DM), gestational diabetes (GDM) and healthy controls (CON); (2) to analyse the influence of glycemia on the prevalence of fungi in different body sites. Methods. Mycological examinations were performed in 251 pregnant women: 119 diabetic (47 DM, and 72 GDM) and 132 controls. Samples were collected from vagina, rectum and oral cavity of all women and cultured on Sabouraud media. Results. A total of 212 fungal strains were isolated, 12 fungal species were identified: 89.6% of the strains belonged to Candida gender, 10.4% to Saccharomyces, Geotrichum, Rhodotorula and Trichosporon genera. The prevalence of fungi, respectively, in vagina and rectum, was significantly higher in diabetics with poor glycemic control when stratified (< 100 mg/dt, 100-120 mg/dt and > 120 mg/dl) both the mean week glucose levels (MWGL) levels (p = 0.03, p = 0.03) and glycemia 90 min after breakfast (p = 0.04, 0.03). No difference was found in the prevalence of fungi and glycolised hemoglobin (HbA1). Conclusions. MWGL showed an association between glycemia and prevalence of fungi. However, no relation was found between HbA1 and fungal infections in well controlled diabetic pregnancies. (C) 2004 The British Infection Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.