Sexually transmitted infection service use and risk factors for HIV infection among female sex workers in Georgetown, Guyana.

OBJECTIVES: To identify risk factors for HIV and sexually transmitted infection (STI) service use patterns among female sex workers in Georgetown, Guyana. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 299 female commercial sex workers. METHODS: HIV prevalence was assessed using an oral fluid test, and sociodemographic and behavioral data by interview administered by sex workers and women's group members. RESULTS: HIV prevalence was 30.6% [95% confidence interval (CI) 24.9-36.3]. Multivariate logistic regression found a significant association between HIV infection and having a vaginal ulcer in the last 12 months [odds ratio (OR) 4.0, CI 1.4-12.0]. Having had a vaginal ulcer was associated with use of cocaine. Multivariate logistic regression on STI service use variables found significant associations between HIV infection and getting condoms from public sector STI services (OR 3.1, CI 1.6-5.8), not going back for HIV test results (OR 3.4, CI 1.1-10.1), and last getting tested for HIV more than 6 months ago (OR 2.8, CI 1.3-6.2). CONCLUSIONS: An active program of screening and treatment of ulcerative STIs should be combined with substance abuse services for sex workers (SW). Condom promotion services are reaching SW at high risk, but HIV stigma may prevent SW at high risk from accessing HIV test results.

Influence of host factors on immunoglobulin G concentration in oral fluid specimens.

The influence of host factors (tobacco use, dentition, bleeding gums, oral rinsing, nasal medications, and time since the last meal) on immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentration in oral fluids (OF) was determined by univariate and multivariate analysis. Significant differences in IgG concentration were found to be associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) status (HIV antibody positive, +16.60 microg/ml, P = 0.0001), sex (female, +1.23 microg/ml, P = 0.004), dentition (+2.83 microg/ml, edentulous versus dentulous, P = 0.0001), bleeding gums (+6.35 microg/ml, P = 0.0001), and time since the last meal (+3.55 microg/ml, >6 h, P = 0.0001). These factors could impact diagnostic methods that rely on the immunoglobulin concentration in OF specimens.

Campylobacter infections in calves, piglets, lambs and kids in Trinidad

Faeces or rectal swabs from 689 diarrhoeic and non-diarrhoeic animals were cultured for thermophilic campylobacters and their antibiograms were determined. Three hundred and fifteen (45.7 percent) samples were positive for Campylobacter. Piglets had the highest prevalence, 79.3 percent (233/294) and lambs, the lowest with 17.9 percent (15/84) being positive. The difference was statistically significant (P < or = 0.01; chi 2). In calves, 20.5 (60/293) and in kids 38.9 percent (7/18) were positive for campylobacters. The prevalence of infection was not significantly (P > or = 0.05; chi 2) different between diarrhoeic (46.1 percent) and non-diarrhoeic (45.1 percent) animals nor between male (47.5 percent) and female (43.8 percent). The frequency of isolation of campylobacters harvested from semi-intensively managed animals (75.4 percent) was, however, significantly higher (P < or = 0.001; chi 2) than from intensively or extensively managed animals. Overall, C. coli strains (32.8 percent) were more frequently isolated than C. jejuni strains (12.9 percent) and the difference was significant (P < or = 0.001; chi 2). Biotype I accounted for 67.3 percent (152/226) of C. coli and 64.0 percent (57/89) of C. jejuni strains isolated. A total of 245 (77.8 percent) strains of Campylobacter exhibited resistance to one or more antibiotics and was highest to streptomycin (76.5 percent), kanamycin (28.6 percent) and neomycin (26.7 percent). It was concluded that Campylobacter infections were widespread in livestock in Trinidad, particularly C. coli in piglets. (AU)