The effect of treatment of vaginal infections on shedding of human immunodeficiency virus type 1

J Infect Dis. 2001 Apr 1;183(7):1017-22. doi: 10.1086/319287. Epub 2001 Feb 28.

Abstract

To assess the effect of treatment of vaginal infections on vaginal shedding of cell-free human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and HIV-1-infected cells, HIV-1-seropositive women were examined before and after treatment of Candida vulvovaginitis, Trichomonas vaginitis, and bacterial vaginosis. For Candida (n=98), vaginal HIV-1 RNA decreased from 3.36 to 2.86 log(10) copies/swab (P<.001), as did the prevalence of HIV-1 DNA (36% to 17%; odds ratio [OR], 2.8; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3-6.5). For Trichomonas vaginitis (n=55), HIV-1 RNA decreased from 3.67 to 3.05 log(10) copies/swab (P<.001), but the prevalence of HIV-1 DNA remained unchanged (22%-25%; OR, 0.8; 95% CI, 0.3-2.2). For bacterial vaginosis (n=73), neither the shedding of HIV-1 RNA (from 3.11 to 2.90 log(10) copies/swab; P=.14) nor the prevalence of DNA (from 21% to 23%; OR, 0.8; 95% CI, 0.3-2.0) changed. Vaginal HIV-1 decreased 3.2- and 4.2-fold after treating Candida and Trichomonas, respectively. These data suggest that HIV-1 transmission intervention strategies that incorporate diagnosis and treatment of these prevalent infections warrant evaluation.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Antitrichomonal Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Candidiasis / complications
  • Candidiasis / drug therapy
  • DNA, Viral / analysis
  • Down-Regulation
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / complications
  • HIV Infections / transmission
  • HIV Infections / virology*
  • HIV Seropositivity / complications
  • HIV Seropositivity / virology*
  • HIV-1 / genetics
  • HIV-1 / isolation & purification*
  • Humans
  • Metronidazole / therapeutic use
  • Nystatin / therapeutic use
  • Odds Ratio
  • Prospective Studies
  • RNA, Viral / analysis
  • Trichomonas Vaginitis / complications
  • Trichomonas Vaginitis / drug therapy
  • Vagina / pathology
  • Vagina / virology*
  • Vaginitis / complications
  • Vaginitis / drug therapy*
  • Vaginitis / microbiology
  • Vaginosis, Bacterial / complications
  • Vaginosis, Bacterial / drug therapy
  • Virus Shedding / drug effects*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Antitrichomonal Agents
  • DNA, Viral
  • RNA, Viral
  • Nystatin
  • Metronidazole