       Document 0512
 DOCN  M9640512
 TI    Bacterial vaginosis and HIV seroprevalence among female commercial sex
       workers in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
 DT    9604
 AU    Cohen CR; Duerr A; Pruithithada N; Rugpao S; Hillier S; Garcia P; Nelson
       K; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Northwestern University,;
       Chicago, Illinois, USA.
 SO    AIDS. 1995 Sep;9(9):1093-7. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/96085727
 AB    OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between HIV seropositivity
       and bacterial vaginosis (BV) in a population at high risk for sexual
       acquisition of HIV. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was conducted among
       144 female commercial sex workers in Chiang Mai, Thailand. METHODS: The
       participants were tested for cervical gonorrhea and Chlamydia infection,
       syphilis, Trichomonas vaginitis, Candida vaginitis, BV, and HIV
       infection. BV was diagnosed by clinical criteria (pH > 4.5, positive
       amine test, and presence of clue cells) and using Gram stains. RESULTS:
       Thirty-three per cent of participants had BV, and 43% were HIV-positive.
       Using clinical criteria, the association of BV and HIV seropositivity
       was significant [odds ratio (OR), 2.7; 95% confidence interval (CI),
       1.3-5.0]. Although the association between BV and HIV prevalence was not
       significant using Gram stains alone for diagnosis of BV, an association
       was found between abnormal vaginal flora and HIV (OR, 2.1; 95% CI,
       1.0-4.8). In multiple logistic regression analysis, adjusting for age,
       number of sexual encounters per week, current condom use, and currently
       having a sexually transmitted disease (STD), both BV and a history of an
       STD were independently associated with HIV seropositivity (adjusted OR
       for BV, 4.0 and 95% CI, 1.7-9.4; adjusted OR for history of an STD, 6.9
       and 95% CI, 2.1-22.9). CONCLUSIONS: When diagnosed clinically, BV is
       independently associated with HIV seroprevalence. HIV infection may
       promote abnormal vaginal flora, or BV may increase susceptibility to
       sexual transmission of HIV. Alternatively, the association seen here may
       result from intervening variables; in this case BV may be a marker or a
       cofactor of HIV transmission.
 DE    Adolescence  Adult  Animal  AIDS-Related Opportunistic
       Infections/*EPIDEMIOLOGY/TRANSMISSION  Cross-Sectional Studies
       *Developing Countries  Female  Human  HIV Seroprevalence/*TRENDS
       Incidence  Middle Age  Prostitution/*STATISTICS & NUMER DATA  Rats  Risk
       Factors  Thailand/EPIDEMIOLOGY  Urban Population/*STATISTICS & NUMER
       DATA  Vaginosis, Bacterial/*EPIDEMIOLOGY/TRANSMISSION  JOURNAL ARTICLE

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).

