A Case of Fungus Infection of the Vagina *

Although mycotic infection of the vagina is no longer considered rare, the types of organism usually implicated are those belonging to the genus Monilia or Cryptococcus. Invasion of the female genitalia by the more highly developed members of the fungus group is, to our knowledge, extremely rare, a search of the literature revealing a report of only one case of vaginitis due to one of the higher fungi. Goldstine2 has described a case of vaginitis in a patient thirty-nine years of age, who complained of a non-irritating odorless discharge of several years' duration and an intermittent pruritis vulvae, in whom Aspergiluls fumigatus was demonstrable microscopically. Pelvic examination of this patient "revealed slightly red and irritated vulva with a grayish discharge which was also present in the vagina.. This discharge was microscopically negative. On the posterior vaginal wall and the posterior cervical fornix were numerous grayish white nodules about 2 to 4 mm. in diameter. These were firmly adherent and on removal left a raw surface. Histologic examination of four of these nodules revealed the presence of a fungus growth readily identified as Aspergillus fumigatus growing in necrotic tissue." No mention is made by Goldstine of the therapeutic measures used in the attempt to cure this condition and no details are therefore available as to the progress made after recognition of the causative agent. The case reported here is of interest because infections of this type are rare and because the difficult problem of securing an active and effective therapeutic agent is clearly demonstrated.