Multiple Hpv infections in female sexworkers in western Kenya: implications forprophylactic vaccines within this subpopulation

Abstract

Whilst the imputed role of High Risk (HR) HPV infection in the development of cervical lesions andcancer has been established, the high number of HPV genotypes that Female Sex workers (FSW) harbour warrantsthat the synergistic effects of potential HR (pHR) and HR HPV genotypes be elucidated to assess the potentialimpact of prophylactic vaccines. This population in Kenya also harbours a number of other vaginal infections andSTIs, including bacterial vaginosis (BV), trichomonas vaginalis (TV) andcandida spp.The aims of this cross-sectional analysis in Kenya are to explore the epidemiology of abnormal cytology and thepairing of pHR/HPV genotypes in HIV-negative and HIV-infected FSW.