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. 2001;9(3):133–141. doi: 10.1155/S1064744901000242

A Multicenter Study of Bacterial Vaginosis in Women With or at Risk for Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection

Dora Warren 1, Robert S Klein 2, Jack Sobel 3, Burney Kieke Jr 1, William Brown 4, Paula Schuman 3, Jean Anderson 5, Susan Cu-Uvin 6, Kenneth Mayer 6, Denise J Jamieson 1,7,✉, Scott Holmberg 1, Ann Duerr 1
PMCID: PMC1784649  PMID: 11516061

Abstract

Background: Bacterial vaginosis is a common gynecologic infection that has been associated with a variety of gynecologic and obstetric complications, including pelvic inflammatory disease, postabortal infection and premature delivery. Recent studies suggest that bacterial vaginosis may increase a woman’s risk for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). We undertook this study to assess whether the prevalence and characteristics of bacterial vaginosis differed according to HIV status in high-risk US women.

Methods: Prevalence of bacterial vaginosis was assessed by Gram’s stain and clinical criteria for 854 HIV-infected and 434 HIV-uninfected women enrolled in the HIV Epidemiology Research (HER) Study.Multiple logistic regression techniques were used to determine whether HIV infection independently predicted bacterial vaginosis.

Results: Almost half (46%) the women had bacterial vaginosis by Gram’s stain. The prevalence of bacterial vaginosis was 47% in the HIV-positive women compared with 44% in the HIV-negativewomen; this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.36). After adjustment for other covariates, HIV-positive women were more likely than HIV-negative women to have bacterial vaginosis (odds ratio (OR) 1.31; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01-1.70) by Gram's stain but not by clinical criteria (OR 1.16; CI 0.87-1.55). Among HIV-positive women, use of antiretroviral drugs was associated with a lower prevalence of bacterial vaginosis (adjusted OR 0.54; Cl 0.38 -0.77).

Conclusions: In this cross-sectional analysis of high-risk US women, HIV infection was positively correlated with bacterial vaginosis diagnosed by Gram’s stain.

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Selected References

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