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Numerous epidemiologic studies have found significant associations between lack of circumcision and HIV-1 acquisition in men. To our knowledge, this is the first study of human foreskin tissue that examines biologic mechanisms that increase susceptibility of uncircumcised African men to HIV-1. Foreskin specimens from 20 men with and 19 men with no history of sexually transmitted infections were examined for HIV-1 target cells. Most Langerhans cells were found in the epithelium; most CD4+ T cells and macrophages were in the submucosa. There were no differences in HIV-1 target cells between men with and those without history of sexually transmitted infections. However Langerhans cells and macrophages were more abundant in the group with a history of infection. The densities and positions of HIV-1 target cells in the foreskin tissue of these Kenyan men indicate that the inner mucosal surface of the human foreskin contains cells that make it highly susceptible to HIV infection.

Untreated maternal syphilis during pregnancy will cause adverse pregnancy outcomes in more than 60% of the infected women. In Nairobi, Kenya, the prevalence of syphilis in pregnant women of 2.9% in 1989, showed a rise to 6.5% in 1993, parallel to an increase of HIV-1 prevalence rates. Since the early 1990s, decentralized STD/HIV prevention and control programmes, including a specific syphilis control programme, were developed in the public health facilities of Nairobi. Since 1992 the prevalence of syphilis in pregnant women has been monitored. This paper reports the findings of 81,311 pregnant women between 1994 and 1997. A total of 4244 women (5.3%) tested positive with prevalence rates of 7.2% (95% CI: 6.7-7.7) in 1994, 7.3% (95% CI: 6.9-7.7) in 1995, 4.5% (95% CI: 4.3-4.8) in 1996 and 3.8% (95% CI: 3.6-4.0) in 1997. In conclusion, a marked decline in syphilis seroprevalence in pregnant women in Nairobi was observed since 1995-96 (P0.0001, Chi-square test for trend) in contrast to upward trends reported between 1990 and 1994-95 in the same population.This study presents the trend in syphilis prevalence among 81,311 pregnant women in Nairobi, Kenya, from 1994 to 1997. Clinic nurses performed syphilis serology using a rapid plasma reagin (RPR) card test in 10 NCC clinics and Chi square; these were used to study trends over time. Results showed that a total of 4244 women (5.3%) tested positive with prevalence rates of 7.2% (95% CI: 6.7-7.7) in 1994, 7.3% (95% CI: 6.9-7.7) in 1995, 4.5% (95% CI: 4.3-4.8) in 1996, and 3.8% (95% CI: 3.6-4.0) in 1997. Thus, a significant decrease in syphilis seroprevalence among pregnant women in Nairobi was observed since 1995-96, by contrast with the rising trend in syphilis prevalence reported in 1990 and 1994-95 in the same population. This decline was attributable in large part to the syphilis control program initiated in Nairobi in June 1992, which focused on sexual behavior modifications, changes in health care seeking behavior and improved health care services.

A ten-year retrospective review of laboratory detection of Cryptococcus neoformans in cerebrospinal fluid was undertaken using past laboratory and clinical records at Kenyatta National Hospital. A total of 1462 India-ink tests were carried out, 76 (5.2%) of these tested positive for C. neoformans. An increasing number of clinical requests for India-ink test mirrored by increasing number of patients with immunological disorders were noted over the study period although no obvious trend emerged in the detection pattern of C. neoformans. The use of a more sensitive test such as the latex agglutination technique is suggested.

The purpose of the study was to determine the pattern and antimicrobial sensitivity on community acquired bacterial strains in Nairobi, Kenya. Clinical specimens collected from out-patient clinics at the Kenyatta National Hospital were cultured on appropriate media and identified according to Cowen and Steel's manual. The antimicrobial sensitivity was determined using comparative disc diffusion techniques. Between 1991 and 1995, there were a total of 1659 positive cultures comprising 30 different bacterial species. Out of the overall gram negative isolates (61.9%), E.coli and Klebsiella spp formed over 70%. Among the gram positive, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus and coagulase negative staphylococcus spp constituting 41%, 26% and 18% respectively were the most common. Most organisms showed multiple resistance patterns to commonly used antimicrobials similar to hospital acquired infections. The gram negative isolates were resistant to cotrimoxazole, ampicillin, tetracyclines, chloramphenicol, and sulphamethoxazole. However, the sensitivity of these organisms to gentamicin and kanamycin was between 60 and 90%. Among the gram positive isolates, there was a high resistance to penicillin and tetracyclines (60-90%) while the resistance to lincomycin, minocycline and chloramphenicol was low (5-50%). All isolates were, however, highly sensitive to cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones. Beta-lactamase production among, E.coli, Klebsiella spp and Staphylococcus aureus was 48.9%, 76.7%, 76.1% respectively. Methicillin resistance for Staphylococcus aureus was 59.2%. Indiscriminate use of antibiotics in the community may have selected for resistant strains. This calls for urgent need to review policies on prescription practices.

To monitor clinically significant isolates and their antimicrobial susceptibilities, all specimens sent to microbiology laboratory of the Kenyatta National Hospital were cultured on appropriate media. The susceptibility of the isolates was performed on Muller Hinton or diagnostic sensitivity test (DST) agar using comparative discs diffusion technique. The results were then entered into Microbe Base 2 computer programme. A total of 7416 clinically significant isolates were collected from 1991 to 1995. The most commonly isolated organisms were E.coli, Klebsiella and Staphylococcus aureus. Most of these hospital acquired infections had multiple resistance to conventional antimicrobials, namely, penicillin, tetracyclines, gentamicin, trimethoprim/sulphamethoxazole and ampicillin. The resistance pattern was high among both gram negative and positive bacteria isolates. Beta-lactamase production amongst them were 51%, 69.3%, 79.6% respectively. Prevalence of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus was 39.8%. Addition of clavulanic acid to amoxycillin increased Staphylococcus aureus susceptibility three fold. The emergence of multiple drug resistance calls for a continuous monitoring and reviewing of antibiotic policy in the hospital and the country at large.

During a four year period, a survey of antibiotic sensitivity patterns in clinical isolates of pneumococci was conducted at Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi. The isolation and characterisation of Streptococcus pneumoniae was done using standard laboratory procedures. Sensitivity testing was by disc diffusion method using discs supplied by Oxoid. During the period, 45 clinical isolates were recorded. This figure is somewhat lower than the expected rate of pneumococcal isolation at the hospital. Penicillin resistance of 24% among the pneumococcal isolates was recorded. Among the antibiotics tested, amoxycillin/clavulanic acid, ceftazidime, erythromycin and chloromphenicol had highest activity against the pneumococci. Surprisingly low sensitivity rates were recorded for trimethoprim/ sulphamethoxazole and cefuroxime. Implications of these findings in the management of pneumococcal infections are discussed.

Enteric pathogens were determined from stools of 273 children aged less than 5 years at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), 43.6% (119/273) of whom were malnourished according to the Wellcome criteria. Rotavirus was detected by ELISA test, Salmonella, Shigella and E. coli by culture on MacConkey and Salmonella-Shigella agar at 37 degrees C overnight and Campylobacter on Skirrow's selective media at 42 degrees C for 48 hrs. These were identified by biochemical tests and serotyping using specific antisera. Whereas isolation rate for Campylobacter (0.0% vs 5.0%, p = 0.006), well malnourished ETEC-LT (0.6% vs 5.0%, p = 0.003) and T. hominis (0.0% vs 3.4%, p = 0.03) was higher in the malnourished children, EPEC (30.5% vs 10.1%, p0.001) and Salmonella+ETEC-LT (7.8% vs 1.7%, p = 0.02) was higher in children. The other enteric pathogens were equally isolated from normal and malnourished children. A larger proportion of malnourished children had diarrhoea of unknown aetiology compared to the well nourished (26.6% vs 50.4%, p0.001). Campylobacter and T. hominis may be opportunistic infections due to immuno-suppression in malnutrition. Diarrhoea of unknown aetiology may be due to aetiological agents that were not determined in this study.

The purpose of this study was to determine if Mycobacterium leprae is an opportunistic pathogen in immunosuppressed subjects with HIV infection. Ninety six leprosy patients at Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH), Nairobi were screened for, HIV-1 antibody between January 1991 and June 1992. The patients included 15 who were diagnosed during the study period and 81 who were previously diagnosed and were on anti-leprosy treatment. Blood was screened for HIV antibody by first ELISA and double positive samples were confirmed by a second ELISA. The HIV seronegative patients were re-tested serologically every 3 months. Smears from skin slits were used to determine bacterial index and the patients were classified according to criteria described by Ridley and Jopling. The patients were re-assessed clinically monthly. The mean age of the patients was 40 years and ranged from 13 to 78 years. Forty seven percent had paucibacillary and 53% had multibacillary leprosy. The HIV seroprevalence was 8% in previously diagnosed patients and zero in the newly diagnosed patients. There were no changes in clinical spectrum in HIV seropositive patients during follow up period; neither reversal reactions nor erythema nodosum leprosum were observed. The study suggests that M. leprae may not be an opportunistic pathogen in immunosuppressed subjects with HIV infection.

In preparation for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prophylactic vaccine trials, prospective cohorts of HIV seronegative female commercial sex workers and male trucking company employees were established in Mombasa, Kenya, with the aims of defining HIV seroincidence and correlates of HIV seroconversion. Female and male cohorts were followed at 1- and 3-month intervals, respectively, with questionnaires, physical examinations, evaluation for sexually transmitted diseases, and HIV serologic testing. Between February and September, 1993, 1,277 women and 748 men were tested for antibodies to HIV-1. Seroprevalence was 55.4% among commercial sex workers and 17.7% among trucking company employees. Three hundred fifty-two HIV-seronegative women and 507 seronegative men were enrolled in the cohort studies. Annualized seroincidence rates of HIV infection were 16.4% (95% CI 8.8-27.0) among commercial sex workers and 6.6% (95% CI 2.5-13.8) among trucking company employees. These cohorts may be valuable resource for evaluating HIV vaccines and other potential preventive interventions.

A total of 120 sets of blood cultures were performed aerobically from 60 children with clinically diagnosed septicaemia at Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi. Out of these, 36 (30%) sets from 19 (31.7%) patients yielded bacterial growth while 84 (70%) sets from 41 (68.3%) were negative. Salmonella typhimurium was the most frequently isolated bacteria (63%), followed by Staphylococcus aureus (15.8%). Salmonella typhimurium isolates were mostly multi-antibiotic resistant, most of them only sensitive to amikacin and cefotaxime, while all were resistant to ampicillin and co-trimoxazole, the most frequently used antibiotic in this hospital.Between March 1987-January 1988, physicians enrolled 60 pediatric patients with a fever who were admitted to the Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya for various clinical conditions in a study to determine the types, frequency, and antibiotic sensitivity patterns of aerobic and facultative bacterial isolates. Most of the patients were 13 months-4 years old (45%). 31.7% of the patients had positive blood cultures. Staphylococcus aureus was the 2nd most common bacteria (15.8%) among these patients. Laboratory personnel isolated Salmonella typhimurium in most patients (63%). In fact, during the same period, the Diagnostic Microbiology Laboratory at the hospital identified Salmonella species in 48% of all isolated bacteria and 35% of these were S. typhimurium. S. typhimurium tended to be present in children with gastroenteritis (41.8%) or a fever of unknown origin (33.3%). S. typhimurium was very sensitive to amikacin and cefotaxime, but resistant to ampicillin and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim. Health workers in Kenya have frequently administered ampicillin and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim, but not amikacin and cefotaxime. 67% of the strains of S. typhimurium were resistant to gentamicin and 33% to chloramphenicol. These results along with those of other reports from this hospital indicated a dramatic rise in Gram negative bacteria resistance to antibiotics. Therefore physicians should no longer consider gentamicin as a 1st line antibiotic in treating suspected septicemia patients.

Of 90 isolates of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in a rural area in Kenya, 44 (48.9%) produced beta-lactamase (penicillinase). Testing for susceptibility of 35 penicillinase producing N. gonorrhoeae (PPNG) strains to four antibiotics yielded the following results: 16 (45.7%) showed a decreased susceptibility to tetracycline; six (17.1%) showed resistance, probably plasmid mediated; 10 (28.6%) had intermediate susceptibility to gentamicin; one (2.9%) was resistant; and two (5.7%) isolates were resistant to cefotaxime. 16 (57.1%) of 28 non PPNG strains showed a decreased susceptibility to penicillin; 10 (35.7%) were resistant. Nine (32.1%) of 28 non-PPNG isolates showed intermediate susceptibility to tetracycline; one (3.6%) was resistant. Eight of non PPNG isolates (28.6%) showed decreased susceptibility to gentamicin. These results imply that penicillin and tetracycline should be abandoned as primary therapy. For the time being, thiamphenicol and spectinomycin seem to be good alternatives. The observation of cefotaxime resistance in N. gonorrhoeae in a rural area implies a warning concerning future possibilities for use of third generation cephalosporins.

Control of genital ulcer disease (GUD) is a proposed intervention to slow the dissemination of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Programs for the control of sexually transmitted diseases (STD) should focus on groups of high-frequency transmitters, such as prostitutes and their clientele. This study illustrates the interaction between the prevalence of chancroid, use of barrier prophylaxis against STDs, and HIV infection in a population of female prostitutes in Nairobi. Four hundred and twenty three women were evaluated. Despite the increased use of condoms, the prevalence of genital ulcers remained constant between 1986-87 and 1987-88. Genital ulcer disease was simultaneously associated with HIV infection (adjusted odds ratio: 3.7, P less than .01) whereas it was independently and inversely associated with more consistent condom use (P less than .01). The authors conclude that genital ulcer disease can be controlled in these populations but concurrent HIV infection increases the difficulty of this intervention.Counselors at a Nairobi City Commission Maternal/Child Health Clinic interviewed prostitutes in a certain residential area every 6 months between 1986-1988 about sexual practices and condom use. In addition, every 6 months, health workers examined the women on a demand basis free of charge, promoted condom use, provided condoms, informed then about sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and HIV infection, and took samples to test for STD and HIV status. Prostitutes were 3 times more likely to use condoms in 1987-1988 than 1986-1987, but the prevalence of genital ulcers remained basically the same (34% in 1986-1987 and 32% in 1987-1988). Hemophilus ducreyi was responsible for at least 80% of the genital ulcers. In 1987-1988, 35% of HIV-1 seropositive women had genital ulcers while only 14% of HIV-1 seronegative women did (p.01). In fact, genital ulcer prevalence increased significantly in HIV-1 seropositive women as the disease stage of HIV-1 advanced (27% of asymptomatic healthy women, 35% of women with generalized lymphadenopathy, and 46% of women with clinical HIV related disease; p.05). Thus this study suggested that the immunosuppressive traits of preexisting HIV infection negate any protective effect that condoms normally have against genital ulcers. Indeed the researchers proposed that a complex bidirectional epidemiologic and biologic interaction of HIV and H. ducreyi infection to be the basis of the HIV-1 epidemic in these women. In conclusion, strategies to curtail the transmission of HIV among heterosexuals should consists of programs which understand and change sexual behavior resulting in a decline in the contribution of prostitutes or other core groups to the HIV epidemic, condom use to prevent STD and HIV transmission, and control of genital ulcers in high frequency transmitters including prostitutes and clients.

Since 1980, Canadian, Belgian, and American scientists have been working together with colleagues in Kenya to understand the epidemiology and biology of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in Africa. The rapid spread of human immunodeficiency virus has dramatically increased the importance of this information. Interventions to slow the spread of all STDs and to reduce their consequences are now our major priority. However, this will require continuing research, ongoing training of scientists, epidemiologists, and technologists, and increasing financial support from industrialized societies.

Since 1985, a population of over 1,000 predominantly HIV-positive female prostitutes residing in a low-income area of Nairobi, has been enrolled in a sexually transmitted disease (STD)/HIV control programme. The major elements of the programme include the diagnosis and treatment of conventional STD, and the promotion of condom use to prevent the transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. Using estimates of numbers of HIV-seropositive prostitutes, numbers of sexual contacts, susceptibility of clients to HIV, HIV transmission efficiency, rates of condom use and the basic reproductive rate of HIV infection in Kenya, we estimate that the programme is responsible for preventing between 6,000 and 10,000 new cases of HIV infection per year among clients and contacts of clients. The total annual operating cost of the programme is approximately US$77,000 or between US$8.00 and US$12.00 for each case of HIV infection prevented. Programmes to reduce the transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections which are targeted at high-frequency STD transmitters, such as prostitutes, can be effective and relatively inexpensive to undertake. More such programmes should be developed and evaluated in different settings.

A community-based cohort of 595 prostitutes from Nairobi was enrolled to study the epidemiology of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) during January-August 1985. Subgroups were followed at interval of 2 weeks to 1 month during April 1985-March 1987. Reassessments were made during September-December 1985 March-August 1986; and October 1986-June 1987. Of the 595 women 196 were initially HIV-1 antibody-negative. Of these 196 women all who seroconverted to HIV-1 (n = 83) and all who remained HIV-1-seronegative during at least 12 months of follow-up (n = 41) were included in this report. Serology for HIV-1 was done using an enzyme immunoassay (HTLV-III ELISA). Positive specimens were confirmed by HIV-1 Western blot (HTLV-III Western blot). Seroconversion to HIV-1 occurred in 83 women (67%) by the end of June 1987. Annual HIV-1 incidence was 47%. Of 85 women who never used oral contraceptives (OCs) 51 (60%) seroconverted compared with 16 (76%) of 21 who either stopped or started using OCs during the observation period and 16 (89%) of 18 who used OCs throughout the study period (p < 0.05). OC use was associated with HIV-1 infection. Of 39 reporting any OC use 32 seroconverted (odds ratio [OR] 3.1; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1-8.6; P m< 0.03). Genital ulcers (mean annual episodes 1.32 +or- 0.55 in seroconverting women vs. 0.48 +or- 0.21 in seronegative women (p < .02) were associated with increased risk of HIV-1 infection. Condom use reduced the risk of HIV-1 infection (OR 0.11; CI 0.05-0.27; p < .0001). Stepwise logistic regression analysis confirmed independent associations between HIV-1 infection and OC use condom use genital ulcers and C trachomatis. The presence of other STDs and genital ulcer disease linked to HIV-1 epidemiology may explain the heterosexual HIV-1 epidemic in Africa. If genital ulcers alter susceptibility to HIV-1 by producing mucosal disruption it seems plausible that other STDs that cause such disruption such as C trachomatis infection also facilitate HIV-1 transmission. This would call for the inclusion of STD control in AIDS control programs.

A malformation syndrome has been proposed in infants with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-related complex secondary to congenital infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the United States and Europe. To determine whether embryopathy is detectable in HIV-exposed African infants, 85 infants of HIV-seropositive mothers and 98 infants of HIV-seronegative mothers in Nairobi, Kenya, were examined for minor and major anomalous features shortly after birth. No mother used intravenous drugs. With the exception of growth failure no anomalous feature was associated with in utero HIV exposure. No increase in the number of anomalous features per infant was correlated with HIV, nor did any infant have the reported malformation syndrome. Thus in this population of African infants examination for anomalous features during the neonatal period failed to identify those infants with fetal exposure to HIV.

Acute respiratory infection (ARI) is the most common cause of illness and death in young children worldwide. Because of inadequate laboratory facilities and financial resources the etiological agents responsible for most cases in developing countries remain unknown, thus obviating appropriate management. Therefore, an ARI program was commenced at the Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya in 1981 with the objectives of establishing the microbial causes, clinical presentations, and diagnoses of ARI in children under 5 years of age and of developing simple, rapid, and inexpensive diagnostic techniques Viruses were demonstrated in 54% of the 822 children studied, but over half of the viruses identified were types not commonly associated elsewhere with the causation of severe ARI. Respiratory syncytial, parainfluenza, and adenoviruses occurred in the same age groups and during similar weather conditions as elsewhere. Measles virus occurred most frequently in those 7 to 9 months old. Herpes simplex, rhino-, and enteroviruses play causative roles in some cases of severe ARI in Kenyan children. A combination of immunofluorescent and cell culture techniques were shown to be essential for the detection of viruses.

Recent epidemiologic studies have implicated genital/anorectal ulcer disease as an important cofactor for acquisition and transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) during sexual intercourse. To better understand the mechanism for the association between genital ulcers and HIV, exudates from 62 genital ulcers of 56 HIV-seropositive prostitutes in Nairobi (Kenya) were cultured for HIV. Twenty-six ulcer cultures could not be evaluated for the presence of HIV because of bacterial or fungal contamination. HIV was isolated from 4 (11%) of the 36 remaining uncontaminated ulcer cultures (2 introital, 1 vaginal, and 1 cervical) from 4 separate women. HIV was isolated from the cervical os from only 2 of the 4 women. HIV p24 antigen was detected in exudate from 1 of the 4 culture-positive ulcers and 0 of 32 culture-negative ulcers. Genital ulcers in seropositive patients should be regarded as potential sources of HIV, which could be important in transmission of HIV during intercourse. Public health measures aimed at controlling sexually transmitted genital ulcer diseases should be an integral part of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) prevention programs.

The acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is epidemic in Central Africa. To determine the prevalence of AIDS virus infection in East Africa, we studied 90 female prostitutes, 40 men treated at a clinic for sexually transmitted diseases, and 42 medical personnel in Nairobi, Kenya. Antibody to human T-cell lymphotropic virus Type III (HTLV-III) was detected in the serum of 66 percent of prostitutes of low socioeconomic status, 31 percent of prostitutes of higher socioeconomic status, 8 percent of the clinic patients, and 2 percent of the medical personnel. The presence of the antibody was associated with both immunologic and clinical abnormalities. The mean T-cell helper/suppressor ratio was 0.92 in seropositive prostitutes and 1.82 in seronegative prostitutes (P less than 0.0001). Generalized lymphadenopathy was present in 54 percent of seropositive prostitutes and 10 percent of seronegative prostitutes (P less than 0.0001). No constitutional symptoms, opportunistic infections, or cases of Kaposi's sarcoma were present. Our results indicate that the epidemic of AIDS virus infection has, unfortunately, spread extensively among urban prostitutes in Nairobi, Kenya. Sexual exposure to men from Central Africa was significantly associated with HTLV-III antibody among prostitutes, suggesting transcontinental spread of the epidemic.

Among 446 sera from prostitutes in Nairobi, the prevalence of antibody to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) rose from 4% in 1981 to 61% in 1985. None of 118 men with chancroid seen in 1980 had antibody to HIV compared with 15% of 107 such men in 1985. Among pregnant women, 2.0% were seropositive in 1985 versus none of 111 in 1981. Seropositive prostitutes and women with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) tended to have more sex partners and had a higher prevalence of gonorrhoea, and in women with STDs, significantly more seropositive women practiced prostitution. Pregnant women and men with STDs who were born in the most-western region of Kenya were more likely to have antibody to HIV than were such groups from other geographic areas. Our results indicate that the AIDS virus was recently introduced into Kenya, that HIV can rapidly disseminate in a high-risk group of heterosexuals, and that prostitutes may have significantly contributed to the spread of the virus.

Since 1981, the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) has spread rapidly to many countries, but there is little information regarding occurrence of the disease in Africa. This is due partly to governmental refusal to acknowledge the AIDS problem, and also to inability to diagnose the disease and recent introduction of AIDS to many areas. The major mode of sexual transmission is heterosexual, with both males and females at risk. Perinatal transmission has not been adquately investigated. Intravenous injection and blood transfusion are other means of infection. AIDS has mainly been reported from Central African countries, with 4000 cases reported in Zaire (an incidence rate of 1:500). In Kenya, seropositivity rates range from 31-66% in prostitutes, 8% in males with STDs to 2% in a control group. The male: female ratio in Kenya is 2.7:1. Since the main route of transmission is heterosexual, the highest risk groups are those who are promiscuous, such as prostitutes and their clients. Other possible routes of transmission that should be studied include scarification rituals, tattooing, male and female circumcision and inadequate sterilization of needles re-used for medical treatment. AIDS is likely to cause an increased burden on the health budget due to the increasing incidence of opportunistic infections and cancers. Increases in cryptococcal meningitis and disseminated candidiasis have already been noted. Live attenuated vaccines may pose a risk to immunosuppressed children. Further research is needed to accurately determine all risk factors for AIDS transmission in Africa, to determine the actual extent of AIDS, to work out control strategies, and to determine the impact on other health facilities.

A cohort of 49 infants exposed to maternal chlamydial infection and 40 nonexposed infants was studied after birth for a mean of 3.3 ? 1.5 and 3 ? 1.7 mo, respectively. Eighteen (37^0) exposed infants had at least one positive culture for Chlamydia trachomatis, whereas C. trachomatis was not isolated from any of the nonexposed infants. Eighteen (37^0) exposed infants developed ophthalmia neonatorum (n = 12) or infant conjunctivitis (n = 7), compared with six (15Vo) of the nonexposed infants (P = .04). Six (129b) exposed infants developed pneumonia, compared with none of the 40 nonexposed infants (P = .05). One infant in the exposed group died during follow-up. These results suggest that appreciable infant morbidity in Kenya may be associated with the high prevalence of maternal chlamydial infection.