HIV-Infected Women of Burkina Faso: a Reservoir of Mycoplasma Infection

Introduction: The objective of this work was to assess the prevalence of bacterial vaginosis (BV) and genital mycoplasma colonization in 251 HIV-positive compared to 200 HIV-negative women at the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) service of Saint Camille Medical Center Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso). Methodology: After revealing the cervix with a speculum; we collected swabs of vaginal discharge for the detection of pathogenic bacteria. Results: Among HIV-positive and HIV-negative women; we identified respectively: Mycoplasma hominis (16.7versus 5.5); Ureaplasma urealyticum (16.3versus 0.0); co-infection M. hominis with U. urealyticum (13.14versus 0.0); Candida albicans (21.11versus 41.5); E. coli (9.96versus 4.0); and the presence of abundant vaginal discharge (27.5versus 5.0) respectively. The Nugent's score; utilized for the diagnosis of BV; was significantly higher in HIV-positive women (p 0.001) associated with poor vaginal hygiene practices (p 0.01) and no use of condoms (p 0.01). Enterobacter; Klebsiella pneumonia; Klebsiella oxitocica; Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus; Streptococcus agalactiae; Trichomonas vaginalis; and Gardnerella vaginalis were also isolated; but in a low prevalence ranging from 0to 5. Conclusion: These results demonstrate that the HIV-positive women of Burkina Faso are frequently affected by BV and represent a reservoir for mycoplasma infection. Since these germs can lead to sterility and premature delivery; it is important to develop a policy of screening

Towards the complete eradication of mother-to-child HIV/HBV coinfection at Saint Camille Medical Centre in Burkina Faso, Africa

The coinfection of HIV and hepatitis B virus (HBV) and their vertical transmission constitute a public health problem in sub-Saharan countries of Africa. The objectives of this research are: i) identify the pregnant women that are coinfected by HIV and HBV at Saint Camille Medical Centre; ii) use three antiretroviral drugs (zidovudine, nevirapine and lamivudine) to interrupt the vertical transmission of HIV and HBV from infected mothers; and iii) use the PCR technique to diagnose children who are vertically infected by these viruses in order to offer them an early medical assistance. At Saint Camille Medical Centre, 115 pregnant women, aged from 19 to 41 years, were diagnosed as HIV-positive and, among them, 14 coinfected with HBV. They had at least 32 weeks of amenorrhoea and all of them received the HAART, which contained lamivudine. Two to six months after childbirth, the babies underwent PCR diagnosis for HIV and HBV. The results revealed that, among these mothers, 64.4 percent were housewives, 36.5 percent were illiterates, and only 1.7 percent had a university degree. The rate of vertical transmission of HIV and HBV was 0.0 percent (0/115) and 21.4 percent (3/14), respectively. The 3 mothers who transmitted the HBV to their children had all HBsAg, HbeAg, and HBV DNA positive. An antiretroviral therapy that in addition to zidovudine and nevirapine includes lamivudine could, as in the present study, block or reduce the vertical transmission in HIV positive pregnant women who are coinfected with HBV.