Management of recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis: Unresolved issues
Abstract
The introduction and widespread use of long-term maintenance suppressive fluconazole prophylaxis for recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC) has improved the quality of life for thousands of women worldwide. Moreover, the regimen is no longer expensive, and it is safe and well tolerated. However, the regimen frequently fails to cure the condition and serves only as an effective control measure in many cases. Moreover, some women are unable to tolerate the regimen, and new curative approaches are needed. This review presents the limitations of this suppressive regimen and a discussion of the possible reasons for these limitations and failure to cure. Also, the rationale for new drug development is reviewed here.
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Maintenance therapy for RVVC is rarely curative; it is intended to suppress rather than eradicate the causative yeast.
“Maintenance therapy for RVVC is rarely curative; it is intended to suppress rather than eradicate the causative yeast. 24”
From Clinical challenges in diagnosis and treatment of recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (2022) · cites this paper as [24]
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- Authors
- Sobel, J. D.
- Affiliations
- Harper University Hospital (US)
- Corresponding author
- Sobel, Jack D.
- ORCID
- Sobel, Jack D.
- Venue
- Current Infectious Disease Reports
- Published
- 2006-11
- Volume
- 8
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 481-486
- ISSN
- 1523-3847 (ISSN-L)
- 1534-3146
- OpenAlex
- W1980375807
- Cited by
- 36
- References
- 22
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 2 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 2 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 4 · 2012: 5
- FWCI
- 1.03
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Current Infectious Disease Reports (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › Antifungal resistance and susceptibility
- Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Microbiology › Reproductive tract infections research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Urinary Tract Infections Management
- Keywords
- recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis, fluconazole prophylaxis, treatment failure, antifungal drug development, Candida albicans, women's health
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