Bacterial colonization of the vagina, oropharynx, breast milk and anterior nares of neonates among HIV seropositive pregnant women and seronegative pregnant counterparts

The human Immunodefiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is a scourge to mankind because the disease has devastated and decimated communities worldwide in the last two or more decades.1,2 The etiological agent was identified separately by Luc Montanier (Pasteur Institute, Paris), who shared the Nobel Prize for his discovery in 2008, and Robert Gallo National Institutes of health (NIH). Bethesda Maryland, USA.3 Recent advancements in molecular biology and gene technology have contributed to the understanding of enormous complexity of HIV genome which has invariably led to the rapid development of tools and strategies to reduce HIV transmission, high rates of mortality and increase in life expectancy among sufferers.2 In the last ten years, great advancements have been made in understanding the genomic structure of the virus and related subtypes like the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)2,4 and understanding of the genome2 of the HIV and associate subtypes which have given scientist insights to the organization of the virus and has led to the formulation of ARV drugs which reduced the burden of infection in patients. Globally approximately 35.3 million people suffers from HIV/AIDS in addition, 2 million new cases occurred in 2012.4 Nigeria accounts for 10% of global HIV/AIDS,5,6 of which 1.72 millions are women within the ages of 35-49 years mostly in their reproductive years.