The incidence of opportunistic infections due to Candida albicans and other Candida spp. has been increasing. Rapid identification of Candida spp. is important for the clinical management of these individuals. The purpose of this study was to identify Candida spp. isolated from the genitourinary tract of diabetic mellitus patients attending Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Osun State, Nigeria. Thirty- four (34) Candida isolates obtained from 70 diabetic mellitus patients were identified for twelve (12) months, between May 2013 and April 2014, by using conventional methods. Clean-catch midstream urine and genital swabs were collected from asymptomatic and symptomatic patients attending genitourinary clinic of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Osun State, Nigeria. Fungal culture and identification were done using standard mycological procedure. The prevalence of genitourinary candidiasis in diabetic patients was 48.6%. Genitourinary candidiasis was strongly associated with female, 28/45(62.2%) than male, 6/25(24.0%). Candida species were isolated in 6 (17.6%) urine, 1 (2.9%) urethral swab and 27 (79.4%) vulvovaginal swabs samples. The most common species were Candida glabrata (58.8%), C albicans (23.5%), Candida dublinensis (11.8%) and Candida lusitaniae (5.9%). Significant genitourinary candidiasis was detected in 23.5 and 76.5% of asymptomatic and symptomatic diabetic patients, respectively. The presence of genitourinary candidiasis in diabetic patients should not be neglected; there should be rapid identification of the organism for proper management. Conventional methods are sensitive and specific for common Candida detection in immunocompromised patients.

Keywords: Prevalence, genitourinary candidiasis, diabetes, CHROMagar Candida, API.