A Comparative study of prevalence of bacterial vaginosis in HIV positive women and HIV seronegative consorts of HIV positive males

Abstract

Aim and Objectives: To study prevalence of bacterial vaginosis in HIV seropositive females, Consorts of HIV positive males and control group and association of other reproductive tract infections with bacterial vaginosis and assessment of progression of HIV infection in bacterial vaginosis positive patients by CD 4 cell count.
Method: This prospective randomized study was carried out at STD Clinic, Zenana Hospital with approval from Hospital Ethics Committee and informed written consent from patients.
50 HIV seropositive women, 25 seronegative consorts of HIV positive males and 50 control patients were included in the study. All the patients under study were subjected to Grams staining of the vaginal smear, Pap smear and Colposcopy. HPV DNA testing was done in all HIV positive patients and seronegative consorts of HIV positive males. In control group only patients showing dyskaryotic changes on cytology were subjected to colposcopy. All HIV seropositive women were subjected to additional tests of CD 4 and CD 8 cell counts.
Result: Prevalence of bacterial vaginosis was high in HIV positive women (36%) as compared to HIV negative group (24%). Prevalence was significantly higher in HIV positive patients with CD 4 cell count less than 200 per microlitre that is 77.77 % with P value (0.007) which is highly significant statistically.
Conclusion: In bacterial vaginosis, vaginal eco-system is altered. It increases risk of infection by opportunistic pathogens when the host defences became impaired .Hence it is concluded that bacterial vaginosis should be treated effectively in patients who are at high risk of acquiring HIV infection and wide spread control of bacterial vaginosis can become a tool for decreasing incidence of HIV in developing countries.