Frequency of Candida Species Isolated from the Breast and Nipple Areas of Female Students – An Exploratory Study

Abstract

Candida infections are an increasing global health concern that often affects mucosal and dermal surfaces, resulting in various clinical symptoms. While Candida infections in the breast and nipple areas are frequently associated with breastfeeding women, less attention has been given to their occurrence in non-lactating individuals, particularly young women. This study aims to assess the prevalence of Candida species beneath the breasts and nipples of female undergraduate students since the breast and nipple areas can harbour fungi, potentially causing discomfort, skin irritation, and secondary infections. An exploratory cross-sectional study was conducted with 50 apparently healthy female students to determine the distribution of these opportunistic fungi in the population. We aseptically collected samples from the participants' breast and nipple areas, which were inoculated onto Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA) plates and incubated at 37°C for 72 hours. Distinct colonies were further cultured on ChromAgar plates and identified using biochemical tests to determine the Candida species present. Analysis of the samples revealed that Candida krusei was the most frequently isolated species, accounting for 55% of the cases. Candida parapsilosis was found in 23.75% of the samples and Candida glabrata in 21.25%. Candida albicans was not isolated from any of the samples. Chi-square analysis found no significant difference in Candida species frequency between Medical-allied and Non-Medical students (p = 0.6589). This study highlights the significant presence of non-albicans Candida species, particularly Candida krusei, Candida parapsilosis, and Candida glabrata. The findings show the need for increased awareness and research into these opportunistic fungi. Further studies are required to understand their clinical implications and resistance patterns better. Increased awareness and monitoring of non-albicans Candida species are vital due to their unique challenges in diagnosis and treatment.