Povidone Iodine Swabbing as A New Treatment Approach in Recurrent Vulvovaginal Candidiasis | ||||
| Al-Azhar International Medical Journal | ||||
| Volume 2025, Issue 4, April 2025, Page 113-118 PDF (260.26 K) | ||||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||||
| DOI: https://doi.org/10.21608/aimj.2025.446511 | ||||
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| Authors | ||||
| Ahmed Mahmoud Elshorbagy1; Hoda Ali Ahmed Shiba* 2; Eman Ibrahim Abd Elrehim3 | ||||
| 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Damietta, Egypt. | ||||
| 2Department of Public Health & Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine for Girls, Al-Azhar University, Cairo | ||||
| 3Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Damietta Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Damietta, | ||||
| Abstract | ||||
| Abstract Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of povidone-iodine as a therapeutic intervention for recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC). Methods: This prospective comparative study was conducted at the gynaecological outpatient clinic of Al-Azhar University Hospital in Damietta. The research involved adult females of reproductive age who presented symptoms consistent with acute episodes of RVVC, which were confirmed through culture analysis of vaginal discharge. A total of 162 women participated, divided into two groups of 81 patients each. Group one received antifungal medications, while group two was treated with a combination of vaginal swabbing using povidone-iodine and antifungal medications. A follow-up assessment was performed after three months to determine the efficacy of the treatments, focusing on rates of remission and recurrence. Results: In the antifungal treatment group, 17.2% of patients did not achieve remission, whereas only 6.1% of those receiving the combined antifungal and vaginal betadine treatment failed to reach remission. In terms of complete remission, 44.4% of patients in the antifungal group achieved this outcome, which is considerably lower than the 70.3% observed in the combined antifungal and vaginal betadine group. Recurrence rate was higher among patients in the antifungal group, with rates of 20.9% compared to 8.6% in the other group. Conclusion: Povidone-iodine represents an effective and efficient strategy in managing RVVC, demonstrating a lower recurrence rate and a higher rate of complete symptom resolution compared to conventional antifungal therapies, while also addressing the issue of resistance to antifungal agents. | ||||
| Keywords | ||||
| Recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis; Fluconazole; Povidone-Iodine | ||||
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