PANCE Infectious Disease Practice Test

Vaginal candidiasis commonly follows disruption of the normal vaginal flora, which normally keeps yeast growth in check. The most frequent trigger is preceding antibiotic exposure because broad-spectrum antibiotics kill the protective lactobacilli in the vagina. With fewer lactobacilli, the vaginal environment becomes less acidic and less competitive, allowing Candida to overgrow and cause infection. Other options don’t have a strong, direct effect on the vaginal microbiome to promote candidiasis, so they’re not as relevant.