This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and associated risk factors in HIV-infected pregnant women followed for prenatal care in Salvador, Bahia. This was a cross-sectional study of 63 women seeking prenatal care at a reference center. Participants were interviewed regarding socio-epidemiological and clinical history, and were tested for HBsAg, anti-HCV, anti HTLV I/II, VDRL, Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Mycoplasma hominis, Ureaplasma urealyticum, CD4 count, and HIV plasma viral load. The main outcome variable was the presence of any STI. The mean age of patients was 28.2 years (16-40 years). 23 (36.5%) were diagnosed with at least one STI. The frequency of diagnoses was: HBV, 3.2%; HCV, 8.1%; HTLV I/II, 3.4%; syphilis, 9.5%; Chlamydia trachomatis, 11.1%; HPV, 15.0%; Mycoplasma hominis, 2.1%, and Ureaplasma urealyticum, 2.1%. No case of Neisseria gonorrhoeae was identified. No association was found between socio-epidemiological variables and the presence of an STI. CD4 T lymphocyte < 500 cells/μL (p=0.047) and plasma viral load >1,000 copies (p = 0.027) were associated with the presence of STI. STIs are frequent in pregnant women infected with HIV, and all HIV-infected pregnant women should be screened to decrease transmission of these pathogens and to protect their own health.

Persistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) is necessary for the development of precursor lesions and cervical cancer. HPV infection among women living with HIV/AIDS (WLHA) occurs more frequently, presents a higher rate of persistent infections and an earlier progression to cancer. We aimed to evaluate HR-HPV prevalence, incidence and clearance, and its association with HIV viral suppression, immunological response and other risk factors among WLHA followed at an STD/HIV reference center. This was a cohort study conducted at a reference center for STD/AIDS in Northeastern Brazil from September 2013 to September 2015. Follow-up visits were conducted at 6 and 12 months after enrolment, where socio-epidemiological data were obtained. Cervical samples were collected for conventional cytology and HPV DNA research (PCR COBAS® Roche) in addition to blood samples for CD4+ T lymphocyte count and HIV viral load. We prospectively evaluated 333 women. HR-HPV DNA prevalence was 33.3% at baseline. HPV-16 was present in 5.1%, HPV-18 in 3.9% and 29.4% WLHA had other HR-HPV (31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59, 66 and 68). The HR-HPV incidence during the follow-up was 10.8%, at the 6-month visit was 7.7% and at the 12-month visit was 3.7%. Variables associated with HR-HPV incidence were: nulliparity, combined oral contraceptive use and detectable HIV viral load. The HR-HPV clearance rate was 41.7% and was associated with age >30 years and lymphocyte T CD4 count >500 cells/mm3 at enrolment. These findings contribute to the knowledge about a group of women that need more careful HPV screening and describe the association between an efficient immunological response and HIV viral suppression with lower incidence and increased clearance of HR-HPV.

The risk of HIV-1 mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) is clearly correlated with the maternal HIV cell-free viral load (VL) at delivery. Preventing MTCT in late-presenting (after 28 weeks) HIV-infected pregnant women remains a clinical challenge, and ensuring a rapid decrease of maternal VL is an important preventive strategy. Raltegravir (RGV) has a higher first and second phase viral decay rate, has a high placental transfer, with a potential preloading effect for neonate, and demonstrates effective accumulation in cervicovaginal secretions. We report 14 cases in which RGV was used late in pregnancy for HIV-1 MTCT prophylaxis. All women were RGV naive and the prophylaxis regimens included RGV plus at least two other antiretroviral agents. At RGV initiation, the median gestational age was 36 weeks (range 34–38) and the median maternal plasma HIV-1 RNA viral load was 35,364 copies/ml (range 636–391,535). At delivery, the median gestational age was 38 weeks (range 37–40). The median exposure time to RGV was 17 days (range 7–32), with a mean maternal VL decay of 2.6 log. At delivery, seven women had undetectable (<50 copies/ml) VL, four had between 64 and 457 copies/ml, and in three VL was not available. All but one infant's HIV-RNA tests were negative at 1 and 3 months (one case of in utero MTCT). Raltegravir-containing antiretroviral regimens induced a rapid HIV-RNA decline in maternal VL at delivery, and were safe and effective in preventing MTCT for late-presenting, HIV-infected women.