Candida nivariensis is a new emergent agent related to human infections in the vaginal tract and other localizations, but the phenotypic characteristics are very similar to Candida glabrata and can be misidentified and underdiagnosed. We described four cases of vulvovaginitis identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and confirmed the results with PCR amplification and sequencing of the entire ITS genomic region (ITS1, ITS2 and 5.8 rRNA). We reinforce the need for new diagnostic tools for the correct identification of yeast infections.
Keywords: Candida nivariensis; Emerging yeasts; MALDI-TOF; Vaginitis.