The Prevalence of Bacteriospermia in Patients with Clinically Diagnosed HIV/AIDS in Port Harcourt

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the prevalence of bacteriospermia in male patients with clinically proven HIV/AIDS in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
Methods: Using standard methods, sperm samples were collected by masturbation after 3 days of abstinence from 120 male patients with clinically diagnosed HIV/AIDS aged 18-57 with a mean age of 39.5; this included 65 single and 55 married men and analyzed for sperm quality and bacteriological profile.
Results: Of the 120 patients tested, 90 (75%) had bacteriospermia with at least one pathogen (Staphylococcus aureus, 30%, Staphylococcus  saprophyticus, 13%, Escherichia coli, 20%, Proteus mirabilis, 10%, Proteus
vulgaris, 10%, Klebsiella spp., 10% and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 7%). The prevalence of bacteriospermia was higher in singles 60 (50%) compared to married 30 (25%) and significantly (P=0.05) higher in  subjects 28-37 and 38-47 years age group (both 30%) followed by the 18-27 years age group (15%).
Conclusion: A relatively high rate of prevalence of bacteriospermia has been identified among HIV/AIDS patients studied. This is dependent of age and marital status of the patients.

Keywords: Sperm quality, Infertility, Bacteria profile, Viral infection,  Immunity, Prevention, Public health.