The dynamics of bacteria population on the skin, throat, and gastrointestinal tract of HIV-seropositive patients

ABSTRACT

Background: The study determined bacteria population on the skin; throat; and gastrointestinal tract of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-seropositive patients and HIV seronegative controls at the baseline; 3 months; and 6 months; respectively; at Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC); Ile-Ife; Osun State; Nigeria and State Specialist Hospital; Akure; Ondo State; Nigeria between May and November; 2012. Materials and Methods: Seventy HIV-seropositive subjects and 51 HIV seronegative controls who attended the HIV clinics were recruited. Skin; throat; and rectal swabs were obtained from the participants using sterile cotton-tipped applicators introduced into thioglycollate broth and incubated at 37oC overnight. When growth was noticed; the broth culture was streaked on different bacteriologic media and the isolates were characterized by the standard methods and disc diffusion for antibiotic sensitivity. Results: The number of isolates cultured from the HIV-seropositive subjects was 934; with the distribution being 397; 326; and 211 at the baseline; 3 months; and 6 months; respectively. The distribution of 1;138 isolates cultured from 51 HIV-seronegative controls was 433; 354; and 351 at the baseline; 3 months; and 6 months; respectively. At the baseline among HIV-seropositive patients; the predominant isolates were Arcanobacterium haemolyticum; Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa); and Bacillus cereus (B. cereus). However; Corynebacterium haemolyticum; Enterococcus faecalis; and Escherichia coli (E. coli) were predominant at 3 months while at 6 months; Corynebacterium haemolyticum and Corynebacterium diphtheriae had the highest frequency followed by Pseudomonas fluorescens (P. fluorescens). In the controls; Corynebacterium diphtheriae; Listeria monocytogenes; and Staphylococcus xylosus (S. xylosus) predominated at the baseline and at 3 months while at 6 months; B. cereus; S. xylosus; and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) were prevalent. Multiple resistances were widespread among the isolates. Conclusion: A preponderance of opportunists was observed in the HIV-seronegatives but higher multiresistant strains in the HIV-seropositives; suggesting both groups live in an antibiotic pressurized environment