Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), is now one of the
greatest challenges facing the world. Sexual transmission is the primary route
of human immunodeficiency virus infection worldwide. Male circumcision is being
considered as strategy to reduce the burden of HIV/AIDS.
The present study was conducted on 200 HIV positive clients.
They were screened for bacterial causes of STIs (Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Treponema pallidum
and Gardnerella vaginalis).
There were 138 males and 62 females. The males were examined
and the circumcision status was observed. In the females, circumcision status
of their male partners was observed. The coinfection of HIV and STIs in
circumcised and uncircumcised cases was found out. Diagnosis was made using
standard tests.
- A total of 23% cases were diagnosed to have HIV –STI coinfection.
- Most common diagnosed diseases were
- Chlamydia (10%),
- Gonorrhoea (9%),
- Bacterial Vaginosis (4.8%) and
- Syphilis (2.5%).
- The coinfection rate in uncircumcised cases was found to be higher (29.2% in males and 39.2% in females) as compared to the circumcised cases (14.2% in males and 13.6% in females).
The present study suggests that circumcision is a protective
factor for acquisition of STIs in HIV positive clients but other factors like
sexual behaviours, use of barrier contraceptives, drug abuse etc also play a
role.
Below: Co-infection of human immunodeficiency virus and sexually transmitted infections in circumcised and uncircumcised cases
By:
Department of Microbiology, Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi, India
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