Epidemiological, etiological, and antifungal resistance patterns of vulvovaginal Candida spp. infections in Cameroon: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

In Cameroon, vulvovaginal candidiasis affects 31.6% of women (95% CI 26.9–36.4%, p < 0.0001), with C. albicans the most frequently isolated species at 23.3% (95% CI 17.9–29.1%).

• Why it matters: Reliable local estimates of VVC burden and species-specific antifungal resistance are needed to guide standardized diagnosis and evidence-based prevention, especially for women at higher risk.
• What they did: A systematic review and meta-analysis (PROSPERO ID: CRD420261368975) included 34 studies from Cameroon, using random-effects models to pool proportions and assess study quality bias.
• The result: Azole resistance in C. albicans was high, with fluconazole resistance at 51.1% (95% CI 21.2–80.7%, p < 0.0001) and itraconazole resistance at 50.5% (95% CI 41.3–100%, p < 0.0001), while data for non-albicans species were limited.