William Hooke
Clinical posts from members and guests of the Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine (ASHM) from various international medical and scientific conferences on HIV, AIDS, viral hepatitis, and sexual health.
Update on Vaginal Microbiome Research
This morning started with a great presentation of two Plenaries, starting with Vaginal Microbiome Research by Jeanne Marrazo - ISSTDR President and Professor/Director of Infectious Disease at University of Alabama - Birmingham. The Plenary followed was PrEP implementation, covered by my other colleague, Tamara.
Jeanne spoke around the importance of healthy vaginal Microbiome and the increased risk of acquiring HIV/STI's. Some of these topics are already known, but it's good to re visit the importance of education to clients and to increase health literacy.
The benefits of having an optimal vaginal environment will see lower levels of HIV in women, protection from pathogens such as Bacterial Vaginosis (BV), Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea and TV as well as optimal birth outcomes such as a normal birth weight, timing of delivery and fewer pregnancy associated infections.
What is optimal vaginal environment? <4.7ph is optimal and anything above would be consistent with BV, in line with other symptoms (NB: STIPU Australia say >4.5ph).
Jeanne discussed that overall, women with BV have a 60% higher risk of acquiring HIV through vaginal sex, and men who's female partner is HIV+ are more likely to acquire HIV if those women have BV. On this note, Jeanne also mentioned that yes BV is quite common in Sub Saharan Africa, and can considered "normal" but it's not optimal.
In conclusion, further research is needed and more data around HIV/BV transmission risk to women. An important point was raised at the end around PrEP (TDF/FTC) implementation in women, especially around vaginal mucosa versus rectal being less effective in early administration and also studies are showing Tenofivir can have reduced coverage when Gardnerella Vaginalis is present.
The second plenary by Sinead Delany-Moretlwe (blogged by Tamara) spoke about Tenofivir effectiveness in women and it showed a lower tolerance for missed doses in the female genital tract in comparison to protection in rectal tissue acquired much sooner.
With PrEP studies in Australia mostly recruiting MSM, it's interesting to look at female vaginal health in relation to PrEP, considering future prescribing options and the importance of education around HIV risk, STI reduction strategies.