What wet mount preparation result confirms a diagnosis of candidiasis?

The presence of budding yeast and hyphae in a wet mount preparation is definitive for diagnosing candidiasis, which is an infection caused by the overgrowth of Candida species, most commonly Candida albicans. In a wet mount, one examines a sample of vaginal discharge or affected tissue under a microscope.

Budding yeast appears as small, round organisms, often resembling small balloons or circles, and hyphae are long, thread-like structures that are indicative of the fungus's filamentous growth form. The coexistence of both budding yeast and hyphae suggests an active fungal infection. This morphological characteristic is specific to Candidiasis and helps differentiate it from other types of infections.

The other options do not confirm candidiasis. The presence of bacteria, high numbers of squamous cells, or elevated white blood cells may indicate other conditions but do not specifically diagnose a Candida infection. Instead, they could suggest bacterial vaginosis or other non-fungal infections, thus underscoring the importance of identifying the specific structures associated with fungi when diagnosing candidiasis.