[Prevalence of urogenital mycoplasma infection in women infected with HIV in Bangui (Central African Republic)]. / Prévalence de l'infection par mycoplasmes urogénitaux chez la femme atteinte par le VIH à Bangui (République Centrafricaine).

Urogenital mycoplasma (UGM) infections have often been reported in HIV patients. Little is known about UGM colonization and infection. We assessed the level of UGM colonization and infection in a cohort of HIV-positive women living in Bangui, Central African Republic. We studied 146 women of child-bearing age, some of whom were pregnant. All were HIV-positive but asymptomatic and attended one of the urban health centers and the National Center for Sexually Transmitted Diseases in Bangui in April or May 1995. Colonization was defined as an endocervical mycoplasma concentration of less than 10(4) color change units per milliliter (CCU/ml) and infection was defined as an endocervical mycoplasma concentration of at least 10(4) CCU/ml. 58 of the 146 HIV-positive women were pregnant (group A). Group B comprised the other 88 women who were not pregnant. The mean age of the women in group A was 22.7 years (range: 15 to 41) and that for the women in group B was 25.8 years (range: 17 to 40). 134 of the 146 women were carrying one or both of the two types of UGM. There were 53 (91.4%) cases in group A and 81 (92%) in group B. Overall, 40% of the women were colonized and 51.4% were infected. UGM infections frequently affect HIV-positive pregnant women in Bangui. Our results suggest that women should be screened for UGM as well as for other sexually transmitted diseases, to improve the care of HIV-infected women attending antenatal clinics in developing countries.

Prevalence and influence of Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma urealyticum in 218 African pregnant women and their infants.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the prevalence of Ureaplasma urealyticum (Uu) and Mycoplasma hominis (Mh) in the lower genital tract of pregnant women, their evolution during pregnancy, and the effect of these pathogens on the outcome of pregnancy in Equatorial Africa. STUDY DESIGN: 218 pregnant women were followed from before 20 weeks gestational age through delivery. Samples were taken from the cervix at every visit and from the newborn at delivery and tested for Uu and Mh. The data were analysed using Student's t-test, the Mann-Whitney, or the chi 2-test. RESULTS: The prevalence of cervical colonization by Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis in pregnant women was 79% and 41% respectively. Colonization with Uu and Mh increased significantly throughout pregnancy (P < 0.001). Their presence was associated with lower gestational age at delivery, lower birth weight and increased neonatal morbidity and mortality (P < 0.05). Erythromycin therapy did not have any effect on the evolution of Uu and Mh colonization during pregnancy. CONCLUSION: Uu and Mh are additional factors that might contribute to poor pregnancy outcome in a country where neonatal health is already impaired by many other microorganism.