Characterizations of Bacterial Vaginosis among HIV-Positive and HIV-Negative Women in Rural Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is extremely common among the African population and is associated with the transmission and acquisition of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and characteristics of BV among HIV-infected and -uninfected...

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Main Authors: Teke Apalata, Sandisiwe Nojaholo, Ikanyeng D. Seipone, Ntombizodumo Nxasana
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2021-01-01
Series:International Journal of Microbiology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/9913878
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author Teke Apalata
Sandisiwe Nojaholo
Ikanyeng D. Seipone
Ntombizodumo Nxasana
author_facet Teke Apalata
Sandisiwe Nojaholo
Ikanyeng D. Seipone
Ntombizodumo Nxasana
author_sort Teke Apalata
collection DOAJ
description Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is extremely common among the African population and is associated with the transmission and acquisition of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and characteristics of BV among HIV-infected and -uninfected women in rural Eastern Cape province of South Africa. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted between September 2017 and March 2018 on women aged 18 years and above (n = 100), attending Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital and Ngangelizwe Community Health Centre with signs and symptoms suggestive of vaginal infection. High vaginal swabs were collected, and BV was diagnosed using Nugent’s score. The prevalence rate of BV was 70% irrespective of HIV status. Of the 61 HIV-infected patients, 49 (80.3%) and 12 (19.7%) were BV positive and BV negative, respectively; whilst of the 39 HIV-uninfected women, 21 (53.8%) and 18 (46.2%) were BV positive and BV negative, respectively (OR = 3.5; CI: 1.4–8.5; p=0.005). Women aged above 35 years were highly likely to develop BV (p=0.049). The presence of Mobiluncus species (>25 per high microscopic field) was significantly associated with BV among HIV-infected patients (p=0.030). A recent history of antibiotic use (≤3 months) was significantly associated with BV among HIV-negative patients (p=0.044). This study shows that BV is more prevalent among HIV-positive women than their HIV-negative counterparts, and its occurrence is higher among those aged above 35 years. The predominance of Mobiluncus species in the vagina microbiota of HIV-infected women might play a significant role in the development of BV. These findings suggest that the treatment of BV could restore normal flora and reduce susceptibility to and transmission of HIV.
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spelling doaj-art-93a9230bfff04434a95088353974bda72025-08-20T02:10:10ZengWileyInternational Journal of Microbiology1687-918X1687-91982021-01-01202110.1155/2021/99138789913878Characterizations of Bacterial Vaginosis among HIV-Positive and HIV-Negative Women in Rural Eastern Cape Province, South AfricaTeke Apalata0Sandisiwe Nojaholo1Ikanyeng D. Seipone2Ntombizodumo Nxasana3Division of Medical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Walter Sisulu University, Mthatha 5100, South AfricaDivision of Medical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Walter Sisulu University, Mthatha 5100, South AfricaResearch Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, Walter Sisulu University, Mthatha 5100, South AfricaDivision of Medical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Walter Sisulu University, Mthatha 5100, South AfricaBacterial vaginosis (BV) is extremely common among the African population and is associated with the transmission and acquisition of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and characteristics of BV among HIV-infected and -uninfected women in rural Eastern Cape province of South Africa. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted between September 2017 and March 2018 on women aged 18 years and above (n = 100), attending Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital and Ngangelizwe Community Health Centre with signs and symptoms suggestive of vaginal infection. High vaginal swabs were collected, and BV was diagnosed using Nugent’s score. The prevalence rate of BV was 70% irrespective of HIV status. Of the 61 HIV-infected patients, 49 (80.3%) and 12 (19.7%) were BV positive and BV negative, respectively; whilst of the 39 HIV-uninfected women, 21 (53.8%) and 18 (46.2%) were BV positive and BV negative, respectively (OR = 3.5; CI: 1.4–8.5; p=0.005). Women aged above 35 years were highly likely to develop BV (p=0.049). The presence of Mobiluncus species (>25 per high microscopic field) was significantly associated with BV among HIV-infected patients (p=0.030). A recent history of antibiotic use (≤3 months) was significantly associated with BV among HIV-negative patients (p=0.044). This study shows that BV is more prevalent among HIV-positive women than their HIV-negative counterparts, and its occurrence is higher among those aged above 35 years. The predominance of Mobiluncus species in the vagina microbiota of HIV-infected women might play a significant role in the development of BV. These findings suggest that the treatment of BV could restore normal flora and reduce susceptibility to and transmission of HIV.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/9913878
spellingShingle Teke Apalata
Sandisiwe Nojaholo
Ikanyeng D. Seipone
Ntombizodumo Nxasana
Characterizations of Bacterial Vaginosis among HIV-Positive and HIV-Negative Women in Rural Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
International Journal of Microbiology
title Characterizations of Bacterial Vaginosis among HIV-Positive and HIV-Negative Women in Rural Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
title_full Characterizations of Bacterial Vaginosis among HIV-Positive and HIV-Negative Women in Rural Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
title_fullStr Characterizations of Bacterial Vaginosis among HIV-Positive and HIV-Negative Women in Rural Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
title_full_unstemmed Characterizations of Bacterial Vaginosis among HIV-Positive and HIV-Negative Women in Rural Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
title_short Characterizations of Bacterial Vaginosis among HIV-Positive and HIV-Negative Women in Rural Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
title_sort characterizations of bacterial vaginosis among hiv positive and hiv negative women in rural eastern cape province south africa
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/9913878
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