Persistent Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae or Trichomonas vaginalis positivity after treatment among human immunodeficiency virus-infected pregnant women, South Africa

Andrew Medina-Marino, Maanda Mudau, Noah Kojima, Remco P. H. Peters, Ute D. Feucht, Lindsey De Vos, Dawie Olivier, Christina A. Muzny, James A. McIntyre, Jeffrey D. Klausner*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

The objective of this study is to assess the predictors and frequency of persistent sexually transmitted infection (STI) positivity in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected pregnant women treated for Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) or Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) infection. We enrolled HIV-infected pregnant women attending their first antenatal care visit and tested them for urogenital CT, NG and TV infection using Xpert (R) CT/NG and TV assays (Cepheid, Sunnyvale, CA). Those testing positive were treated. Participants either notified partners to seek treatment or were given extra medication to deliver to partners for treatment. Repeat testing was conducted approximately 21 days post-treatment or treatment initiation. Among 427 participants, 172 (40.3%) tested positive for any STI. Of the 136 (79.1%) that returned for repeat testing, 36 (26.5%) tested positive for the same organism: CT = 27 (26.5%), NG = 1 (6.3%), TV = 11 (16.7%). Persistent CT positivity was independently associated with having more than one sex partner in the preceding 12 months (adjusted-prevalence ratio [aPR] = 3.03, 95% CI: 1.44-6.37) and being newly diagnosed with HIV infection during the first antenatal care visit compared to those currently on antiretroviral therapy (aPR = 3.97, 95% CI: 1.09-14.43). Persistent TV positivity was associated with not knowing if a partner sought treatment following STI disclosure (aPR = 12.6, 95% CI: 2.16-73.5) and prior diagnosis of HIV but not currently on antiretroviral therapy. (aPR = 4.14; 95% CI: 1.25-13.79). We identified a high proportion of HIV-infected pregnant women with persistent CT or TV positivity after treatment. To decrease the risk of re-infection, enhanced strategies for partner treatment programmes are needed to improve the effectiveness of STI screening and treatment in pregnancy. The relationship between not being on antiretroviral therapy and persistent STI positivity needs further study.

Original languageEnglish
Article number0956462419898612
Pages (from-to)294-302
Number of pages9
JournalInternational Journal of Std & Aids
Volume31
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 23 Feb 2020

Keywords

  • Chlamydia (Chlamydia trachomatis)
  • trichomoniasis (Trichomonas vaginalis)
  • gonorrhoea (Neisseria gonorrhoeae)
  • screening
  • SEXUALLY-TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS
  • GONOCOCCAL INFECTIONS
  • HIV
  • MANAGEMENT
  • EPIDEMIOLOGY
  • PREVALENCE
  • MEN

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Persistent Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae or Trichomonas vaginalis positivity after treatment among human immunodeficiency virus-infected pregnant women, South Africa'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this