Baseline burden and antimicrobial susceptibility of pathogenic bacteria recovered from oral lesions of patients with HIV/AIDS in South-Western Uganda

BackgroundThe need to map pathogenic bacteria from oral lesions of patients with human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) remains crucial to estimate the potential risk of localized and systemic diseases.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to determine the baseline burden and antibiotic susceptibility of pathogenic bacteria recovered from oral lesions of patients with HIV/AIDS in South-Western Uganda.MethodsWorld Health Organization's aseptic criteria were adopted in oral examination, sample (605) collection, pathogenic bacteria isolation, and sensitivity testing. The included patients with HIV/AIDS had persistent oral lesions, and they received antibiotic treatment. The study was ethically approved by the institutional and national boards.ResultsPathogenic bacteria (31% Streptococcus mutans, 16.4% Proteus mirabilis, 11.8% nonhemolytic Streptococcus species, 11.3% Staphylococcus aureus, 9.5% Branhamella catarrhalis, 8.6% Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 8.1% Klebsiella pneumoniae, 6.8% Escherichia coli, and 5.5% Streptococcus pyogenes) prevalence varied significantly (p < 0.05) with participating districts, and this may indicate that patients are at an increased risk of systemic infection and antibiotic resistance. Females were more in number than males, and 31–50 years were the most predominant age groups. The variation of oral pathogenic bacteria represents the distribution of two ethnics made of five tribes. Gentamycin was the most effective antibiotic against all isolates. Relative resistance to oral antibiotics and sensitivity to ciprofloxacin/cefaclor were bacteria-dependent. An effective treatment plan for persistent oral lesions should be against pathogenic bacteria and fungi.ConclusionsAn observed wide array of potentially pathogenic bacteria in the oral cavity of patients with HIV/AIDS poses a real problem in the world of antimicrobial resistance, and this clearly provides a higher risk of systemic infectious diseases in these population with HIV/AIDS.