Objective: To determine whether vaginitis due to Saccharomyces cerevisiae can be caused by exposure to exogenous sources of baker's yeast.
Methods: Eight women with S cerevisiae vaginitis were identified from a cohort of women referred for the evaluation of chronic vaginal symptoms. In those with high-level exposure to exogenous sources of S cerevisiae, isolates from the vagina and those sources were sent in a blinded fashion for contour-clamped homogeneous electric-field electrophoresis.
Results: Four women from a cohort of approximately 750 referred patients had high-level exposures to S cerevisiae. In one of these patients, electrophoresis analysis revealed similarities between the strains isolated from her vagina, her husband's fingers, and the yeast he used in his pizza shop.
Conclusion: Saccharomyces cerevisiae vaginitis can be the result of the inoculation of this yeast from exogenous sources.