Histologic endometritis in asymptomatic human immunodeficiency virus-infected women: characterization and effect of antimicrobial therapy.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence, risk factors, clinical symptoms and signs, and response to antimicrobial therapy of histologic endometritis in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected women without clinical salpingitis. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of 42 HIV-infected women enrolled from a single clinic. Subjects underwent standardized history, examination, and laboratory determinations, including endometrial biopsy. Women with suspected pelvic inflammatory disease were excluded. All women were given antibiotics and repeat evaluation in 5-7 weeks. Histologic endometritis was defined by at least one stromal plasma cell per 120x field and five or more surface polymorphonuclear leukocytes per 400x field. Chi-square and Fisher exact tests were used as appropriate. RESULTS: Histologic endometritis was present among 16 (38%) of 42 evaluable HIV-infected women, none of whom had Chlamydia trachomatis or Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Douching three or more times per month, history of ectopic pregnancy, and two or more prior urinary tract infections were associated with endometritis, as was elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (P < or = .05). Physical examination findings and mean CD4+ lymphocyte count were similar among those with and without endometritis. In the nine HIV-infected women with a repeat biopsy, endometritis decreased from four (44%) to two (22%) after treatment (P = .30). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of histologic endometritis in HIV-infected women was high despite few examination findings and no demonstrated pathogens. Endometritis in HIV-infected women might be related to pathogens not evaluated, to prior infection, or to reduced immunity from HIV.

Vaginal indicators of amniotic fluid infection in preterm labor.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether vaginal interleukin-6, interleukin-8, neutrophils, bacterial vaginosis, and selected vaginal bacteria are predictors of amniotic fluid (AF) infection among women in preterm labor. METHODS: One hundred ninety-seven afebrile women in preterm labor with intact membranes had vaginal and AF samples collected for Gram stain, culture, and interleukin-8 and interleukin-6 determinations. Vaginal interleukin-6, interleukin-8, neutrophils, and vaginal flora were compared in women with positive and negative AF cultures. The negative AF culture group was subdivided according to AF interleukin-6 concentration. Logistic regression was used to examine the associations between vaginal cytokines and flora and AF infection or elevated AF interleukin-6. RESULTS: The vaginal interleukin-8 concentration and neutrophil count were significantly higher with both AF infection and elevated concentrations of AF interleukin-6 and interleukin-8. The vaginal interleukin-6 concentration was not associated with AF infection or high concentration of AF cytokines. Amniotic fluid infection was associated with bacterial vaginosis or intermediate vaginal flora by Gram stain, absence of hydrogen peroxide-producing Lactobacillus, and presence of vaginal Bacteroides ureolyticus and Fusobacterium. Vaginal interleukin-8 levels greater than 30 ng/mL had 80% sensitivity and a positive predictive value of 35%, and an abnormal vaginal Gram stain (more than five neutrophils per 400x field, bacterial vaginosis species, or intermediate flora) had 90% sensitivity and a positive predictive value of 27% to detect AF infection or elevated AF interleukin-6. CONCLUSION: A high vaginal interleukin-8 concentration, abnormal vaginal Gram stain, absent hydrogen peroxide-producing Lactobacillus, and anaerobic vaginal flora were strongly associated with AF infection among women in preterm labor.

Bacteria in the transfer catheter tip influence the live-birth rate after in vitro fertilization.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of individual bacteria isolated from the vagina and tip of the embryo transfer catheter on live-birth rates. DESIGN: Prospective clinical study. SETTING: Infertility outpatient clinic of a university hospital. PATIENT(S): Ninety-one women undergoing IVF-ET. INTERVENTION(S): Cultures were obtained from the vagina for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria at the time of both sonographic egg retrieval and embryo transfer and from the tip of the embryo transfer catheter. Doxycycline treatment was started after egg retrieval. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The live birth of one or more neonates. RESULT(S): Doxycycline had no substantial impact on the recovery of individual vaginal bacteria or on bacterial vaginosis. An increase in live-birth rate was associated with the recovery of hydrogen peroxide-producing Lactobacillus from the vagina (P=0.01) and from the embryo transfer catheter (P=0.01). In contrast, a reduction in live-birth rate was associated with recovery of Streptococcus viridans (S. viridans) from the embryo transfer catheter tip (P=0.04). CONCLUSION(S): In the setting of IVF-ET, prophylactic doxycycline had little effect on vaginal bacteria. Specific bacteria recovered from the embryo transfer catheter appear associated with a detrimental or beneficial effect or with no effect on live-birth rates.

Broad-spectrum bacterial rDNA polymerase chain reaction assay for detecting amniotic fluid infection among women in premature labor.

We amplified bacterial 16S rRNA encoding DNA (rDNA) with the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect amniotic fluid infection in 69 women in premature labor whose membranes were intact. Bacterial rDNA was detected by PCR in samples from 15 (94%) of 16 patients with positive amniotic fluid cultures. Bacteria were detected by PCR in samples from 5 (36%) of 14 patients with negative cultures and elevated interleukin (IL)-6 levels vs. 1 (3%) of 39 patients with negative cultures and IL-6 levels of < or = 2,000 pg/mL (P < .01). The median amniotic fluid cytokine levels and the pregnancy outcomes were similar for patients with positive amniotic fluid cultures and those with negative cultures and positive rDNA PCR assays. The association between amniotic fluid infection and premature labor may be underestimated on the basis of amniotic fluid culture results. The broad-spectrum bacterial 16S rDNA PCR assay may prove useful for diagnosing amniotic fluid infection.

The effect of treatment regimens for vaginitis and cervicitis on vaginal colonization by lactobacilli.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to determine the effect of various treatment regimens on vaginal colonization by H2O2-positive and H2O2-negative lactobacilli. STUDY DESIGN: The subset of women enrolled in a large longitudinal cohort study who had Chlamydia trachomatis (n = 13), bacterial vaginosis (n = 105), yeast vaginitis (n = 15), or mucopurulent cervicitis (n = 47) were compared with 93 women without genital infection from the same population. The effect of various treatment regimens on lactobacilli was evaluated. RESULTS: Use of doxycycline, azithromycin, clotrimazole, and fluconazole had little effect on vaginal colonization by Lactobacillus. Use of oral or vaginal metronidazole led to an increase in Lactobacillus, which persisted 1 month after therapy. Intravaginal clindamycin use caused a decrease 1 week post-therapy, but at 1 month, levels of lactobacilli were similar to those in the metronidazole treatment group. Women treated with oral ampicillin had a modest increase in Lactobacillus levels. CONCLUSIONS: Use of antimicrobial agents for treating vaginitis and cervicitis do not cause a decrease in vaginal colonization by Lactobacillus, which is detectable 1 week to 1 month after treatment.