Perfil de espécies de Candida em mulheres com diabetes mellitus e candidíase vulvovaginal: revisão de escopo

Abstract

Vulvovaginal candidiasis is one of the most prevalent fungal infections among women, and diabetes mellitus is a major risk factor for its development and recurrence. This scoping review aimed to map the scientific evidence regarding the Candida species most frequently associated with vulvovaginal candidiasis in women with diabetes mellitus and to describe their antifungal susceptibility profiles. This scoping review was conducted according to the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology, reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines, and registered on the Open Science Framework (OSF). A comprehensive search strategy was developed using controlled vocabulary from DeCS/MeSH and Emtree. Searches were performed in MEDLINE, LILACS, CINAHL, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Studies published between 1990 and 2025 were considered eligible. Twenty-eight studies met the inclusion criteria. Candida albicans was the predominant species identified in women with diabetes mellitus and vulvovaginal candidiasis, followed by Candida glabrata, Candida tropicalis, and Candida krusei. Fluconazole was the most frequently investigated antifungal agent. Resistance was consistently reported in C. krusei, while reduced susceptibility was observed among C. glabrata and C. tropicalis isolates. This review highlights the importance of accurate species identification, antifungal susceptibility testing, and effective glycemic control are essential for optimizing the management and treatment outcomes of vulvovaginal candidiasis in this population.