title: Correlation of CD4 T Cell Count and Plasma Viral Load with Reproductive Tract Infections/Sexually Transmitted Infections in HIV Infected Females.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) plays a major role in the spread of Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) due to common route of transmission. These infections display an epidemiological synergy with HIV.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to analyse the correlation of CD4 T lymphocyte cell count, HIV-1 plasma viral load with Reproductive tract infections/Sexually transmitted infections (RTIs/STIs) in HIV infected females.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 60 HIV infected females. An informed consent was taken from all the study subjects. Relevant specimens (genital specimen and blood) were collected for laboratory diagnosis of various RTIs/STIs, CD4 cell count and plasma viral load estimation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean CD4 count of females with bacterial vaginosis, vaginal candidiasis, trichomoniasis, syphilis and herpes simplex infection were lower as compared to other HIV infected cases and mean plasma viral load of bacterial vaginosis, vaginal candidiasis, trichomoniasis and syphilis were higher as compared to other HIV infected cases but this difference was not statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study highlights the importance of routine screening for STIs/RTIs of all the HIV infected females for RTIs/STIs irrespective of CD4 cell count and plasma viral load.
authors.affiliation: Senior Resident, Department of Microbiology, Maulana Azad Medical College , Delhi University, New Delhi, India .
authors.forename: Sonali
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bhattar
authors.affiliation: Director Professor, Department of Microbiology, Maulana Azad Medical College , Delhi University, New Delhi, India .
authors.forename: Preena
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bhalla
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology, Maulana Azad Medical College , Delhi University, New Delhi, India .
authors.forename: Deepti
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rawat
authors.affiliation: Director Professor and HOD, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Maulana Azad Medical College , Delhi University, New Delhi, India .
authors.forename: Reva
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tripathi
authors.affiliation: Director Professor, Department of Microbiology, Maulana Azad Medical College , Delhi University, New Delhi, India .
authors.forename: Ravinder
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kaur
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Dermatology & STDs, Maulana Azad Medical College , Delhi University, New Delhi, India .
authors.forename: Kabir
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sardana
keywords: Bacterial vaginosis; Herpes simplex infection; Syphilis; Trichomoniasis; Vaginal candidiasis