Background Vulvovaginal candidiasis in pregnant women may affect the physiological development of pregnancy representing a risk factor for premature labour onset. Premature infants can develop respiratory, neurological, cardiovascular and digestive complications which can disturb the normal development of these newborns.

Purpose The purpose of this study is to assess the prevalence of vulvovaginal candidiasis in pregnant women, to identify the isolated Candida species and to determine their behaviour towards antifungal agents.

Materials and methods The study was conducted between 01.02.2010 – 31.01.2011 on 50 vaginal secretions from women who came to the ambulatory of the Clinical Emergency Hospital of Craiova, Romania, which have been subjected to mycological diagnosis: Giemsa stained smears, isolation on Sabouraud media and chromogenic media (ChromID Candida) in order to identify the Candida species. Antifungal susceptibility test was performed using the standardised systems ATB Fungus 3 (bioMérieux, Marcy l’Etoile, France) and Candifast (EliTech France SAS). It was assessed the susceptibility to: 5-Fluorocytosine, Amphotericin B, Fluconazole, Itraconazole, Voriconazole, Econazole, Miconazole, Ketoconazole and Nystatin.

Results Vulvovaginal candidiasis was detected in 30 pregnant women. The isolated Candida species were C. albicans (53.33%), C. glabrata (20.00%), C. tropicalis (13.33%), C. parapsilosis (6.67%) and C. krusei (6.67%). The isolated Candida strains had a high susceptibility to Amphotericin B (96.67%), Voriconazole (96.67%), 5-Fluorocytosine (86.67%), Clotrimazole (80%), Econazole (80%), and Ketoconazole (80%).

Conclusions The detection of the vaginal mycosis in pregnant women requires the establishment of an appropriate therapy, according to the antifungigram, that can concur to reduce the risk of premature birth and associated complications.