title: Evaluation of vaginal microflora in patients infected with HIV.
abstract: HIV infection is thought to exacerbate the virulence of normal saprophytic vaginal microflora. We studied the vaginal ecosystem of HIV patients to detect the quantitative and qualitative variation of vaginal microorganisms. 15 patients (5 with AIDS and 10 with ARC) were investigated. Vaginal candidiasis was more frequent in this group than in the control groups. Gardnerella was present in 60% of patients generally in association with anaerobic bacteria and Mycoplasma. Among anaerobia, Bacteroides sp and other Gram-negative rods were the most common bacteria. Neisseria gonorrhoeae was absent in all patients tested. Chlamydia trachomatis was recovered in two out of the 15 HIV-positive patients. Aerobic Gram-negative flora was 100-fold that of the control group and anaerobic Gram-negative flora 10-fold.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Infectious Diseases, Università La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Mascellino
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Iona
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Iegri
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Catania
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Trinchieri
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Oliva
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Amenta
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Revérberi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sorice
mesh_terms: D000386:AIDS-Related Complex / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology; D001419:Bacteria / Q000254:growth & development*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications*; D002181:Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology*; D014623:Vaginal Diseases / Q000150:complications*