10.1: Infections of the Repro Tract Flashcards
Name three ways reproductive tract infections be spread
- Endogenous: part of normal flora, but an overgrowth can cause symptoms
- Iatrogenic
- STIs
What are the four most common curable STIs and where geographically are they most common?
Gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis and trichomoniasis
Most common in the americas
How have the rates of STIs changed over the last decade? Name four things that can possibly explain this
Increasing rates,
- Some (such as chlamydia and gonorrhea) are more commonly asymptomatic and can be transmitted easier
- Less stigma about getting tested
- Greater public awareness and more screening available
- Pregnant women are screened
Name seven risk factors for STIs
- Young <25
- Multiple partners and unprotected intercourse
- Pregnancy before age 20
- Commercial sex workers
- Vertical transmission
- Previous history of STIs
- IV drug users
What are four notable things that are part of the ‘history of presenting complaint’ in a patient with an STI? What further questioning should you ask for each?
- Pain: SQITARS, dyspareunia, dysuria
- Discharge: colour, consistency, smell, blood
- Skin changes: itchiness, soreness, lumps
- Review of systems: fever, eye problems, joint pain, weight loss, malaise, etc
Try to name seven aspects of sexual history that would you ask about in a patient with a suspected STI
- Last sexual intercourse
- Type of sexual intercourse (vaginal, anal, oral)
- Contraception
- Details of partnered for the last 3 months (casual, gender, multiple, traceable)
- History of previous STIs in themselves or partner
- Travel history (risk of blood borne viruses)
- Date of last smear
STIs often show an ‘iceberg effect’, what does this mean?
Very few present due to the majority of the infection being asymptomatic
What disease does Candida albicans cause? Name six risk factors
Causes thrush, risk factors include
- Pregnancy
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Oral contraceptive
- Antibiotics
- Steroids
Describe the symptoms of thrush
- Profuse, white curd-like discharge
2. Vaginal itch (be weary of patients that present with multiple episodes of vaginal itching), discomfort and erythema
How is thrush tested for? Can you provide treatment without formal tests?
High vaginal swab for microscopy and culture, but if on history and examination the diagnosis is clear you can start treatment
How is thrush treated?
*4 things
Anti-fungal topical creams, and steroids which may reduce itch and inflammation, or one-off oral dose of anti-fungal, nystatin is for oral thrush
In bacterial vaginosis (BV) the normal flora of the vagina is disturbed (lactobacilli are no longer the dominant organism), which bacterium then dominates and what is one thing that causes this disturbance? How does this affect the vaginal pH?
Gardnerella vaginalis, as this doesn’t metabolize glycogen (into lactic acid) the pH rises. This disturbance can be caused by excessive washing with soap to the vulvovaginal area
How is BV diagnosed?
AMSEL’S CRITERIA: 3/4 required
- Vaginal fluid ph >4.5
- Release of fishy odour on adding alkali (whiff test) (discharge smell often worse during intercourse or menstruation)
- Increase in thin, white homogenous charge
- Clue cells on microscopy
Not often any pain or itching and the patient is otherwise well
How is BV and trichomonas vaginalis treated, who else needs to be treated in BV?
With metronidazole oral for 5-7 days
Trichomonas vaginalis should be checked for other STIs, but you don’t have to check or treat anyone other than the patient for BV since it isn’t sexually transmitted.
Name two diseases with endogenous causes
- Thrush - Candida albicans
2. BV - imbalance of vaginal flora (gardnerella vaginalis)
Name six clinical features of trichomonas vaginalis in females
*including the % of those who are asymptomatic
- 10-50% are asymptomatic
- Yellow-green, thin, frothy, offensive discharge
- Vulvo-vaginitis
- Dysuria
- Dyspareunia
- “Strawberry cervix”: red/inflamed with haemorrhages
Name three clinical features of trichomonas vaginalis in males
*including the % of those who are asymptomatic
- 15-50% asymptomatic
- Dysuria
- Urinary discharge
How is trichomonas vaginalis investigated in men and women?
Women: high vaginal swab or self-taken swab
Men: First void urine culture is preferred or urethral culture
What are three complications that can occur if trichomonas vaginalis goes untreated in pregnancy
- Preterm delivery
- Low birth weight
- Postpartum sepsis
What screening programmes are available for chlamydia and why?
Screening available for under 25s on request as 70% of cases are under 25
What is the pathology for chlamydia? Name five areas it commonly affects
It’s an obligate intracellular bacteria that cannot synthesize its own ATP so it relies on the host cell’s, commonly affects the endocervix, urethra, rectum, pharynx and conjunctiva
Name six clinical features of chlamydia in females
*including the % of those who are asymptomatic
- asymptomatic >=70%
- Dysuria
- Purulent vaginal discharge
- Post-coital/inter-menstrual bleeding
- Dyspareunia
- Lower abdominal pain