Etiology of sexually transmitted infections among street-based female sex workers in Dhaka, Bangladesh

An etiological study of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) was conducte d among female sex workers (FSWs) in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Endocervical swab a nd blood samples from 269 street-based PSWs were examined for Neisseria gon orrhoeae,, Chlamydia trachomatis, and Trichomonas vaginalis as well as for antibodies to Treponema pallidum and herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2). Sociod emographic data and data regarding behavior were also collected. A total of 226 of the 269 FSWs (84%) were positive for the STI pathogens studied. Amo ng the 269 FSWs, 35.5% were positive for N. gonorrhoeae, 25% were positive for C. trachomatis, 45.5% were positive for T. vaginalis, 32.6% were seropo sitive for T. pallidum, 62.5% were seropositive for HSV-2, and 51% had infe ctions with two or more pathogens.