21 - STI's 1 Flashcards
What STI screening should you do for an asymptomatic patient?
Woman
- Self taken vulvo vaginal swab NAAT for C+G
- Bloods for Syphilis, HepB/C, HIV
- Urinalysis/Pregnancy test where appropriate
Man
- First pass Urine for dual NAAT for C+G
- Bloods for Syphilis, HepB/C, HIV
- May need Triple Swabs inc rectal and pharyngeal swabs if MSM
What STI screening should you do for a symptomatic patient?
Woman
- High Vaginal Swab for microscopy and pH. TV, BV, Candida
- Vulvovaginal Swab for NAAT for C+G
- Bloods
- Urinalysis and Pregnancy test if requested
Man
- Urethral smear GC culture
- First Pass Urine for C+G
- BBV Bloods
- Triple swabs inc pharyngeal and rectal if MSM
- Consider Candia and Herpes swabs
- Urine dip
What are the three methods of partner notification?
ALWAYS REASSURE PATIENT IT WILL BE ANONYMOUS
- Patient referral: e.g contact card, text, instagram
- Provider referral: GUM clinic contact them
- Contract referral: Pt has agreed time frame to tell partner and if they don’t then GUM will tell them
What are the three methods of partner notification?
- Patient referral: e.g contact card, text, instagram
- Provider referral: GUM clinic contact them
- Contract referral: Pt has agreed time frame to tell partner and if they don’t then GUM will tell them
How far do you need to look back for a chlamydia infection for partner notification?
6 months
For gonorrhoea it is 3 months
How long should partner notification take at maximum for HIV?
3 months, ideally should be within 4 weeks
How do you assess for BBV?
- Paid for sex?
- IV drug user or had sex with IV drug user?
- Had sex with somebody not in this country?
- Sex with bisexual man or man who has sex with men?
What is the pathophysiology and causative organism of BV?
Gardnerella Vaginalis
Overgrowth of anaerobic vaginal flora due to loss of lactobacilli
Lactobacilli usually produce lactic acid to keep pH<4.5, when pH raises over>4.5 allows anaerobic bacteria to grow
What are some risk factors for developing BV?
- Multiple sexual partners
- Excessive vaginal cleaning (douching, vaginal washes)
- Recent antibiotics
- Smoking
- Copper coil
How does BV present?
- Asymptomatic
- Thin grey discharge
- Fishy odour to discharge
- Dysuria
- Dyspareunia
How is BV diagnosed?
Ix: Speculum, Lateral wall pH, high vaginal charcoal swab, STI screening
Amsel Criteria (3 of 4 need to be met)
- Vaginal pH > 4.5
- Typical discharge
- Positive whiff-amine test: development of fishy odour with addition of 10% potassium hydroxide to vaginal discharge
- Clue cells (on microscopy): vaginal epithelial cells studded with adherent coccobacilli
How is BV treated?
Metronidazole or Clindamycin
Only treat if symptomatic or if pregnant and having TOP!!!!
- Reduce risk factors
- Oral or intravaginal gel metronidazole for 5-7 days,
What are some of the complications with BV?
- Increased risk of STIs
- Post surgical infections
- Pregnancy issues: Miscarriage, Preterm deliver, Premature rupture of membranes, Chorioamnionitis, Postpartum endometritis
What is the pathophysiology/risk factors for vulvovaginal candidiasis?
Candida Albicans (yeast/fungi)
- Oestrogen exposure
- Immunocompromised state (e.g. systemic corticosteroids)
- Poorly controlled diabetes mellitus
- Broad-spectrum antibiotic use: alters the vaginal flora
- Vaginal Hygiene Products
- Sexual activity
- Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
What are some signs and symptoms of thrush?
Symptoms
- Vaginal itching and soreness
- Thick white discharge with no odor
- Superficial dyspareunia
- Dysuria
Signs
- Vulvovaginal irritation
- Vaginal fissuring
- Excoritation
How is candidiasis investigated and managed?
Ix
- Diagnosis can be made on history alone
- Can do vaginal examination
- Can do whiff test, vaginal swab, HbA1c, STI screen, HIV screen if not sure
Mx
- Intravaginal clotrimazole cream or pessary
- Single dose oral Fluconazole
- Topical Clotrimazole 2-3 times per day for vulval symptoms
When using anti fungal vaginal creams and pessaries, what information do you need to give a woman?
Can damage latex condoms so need additional contraception for at least 5 days after use
How is recurrent thrush treated? (4 or more episodes in one year)
Induction Maintenance Regime
- Confirm treatment course and adherence
- Reassess risk factors e.g HbA1c
- Consider alternative diagnosis e.g BV or STI
- Consider alternative treatment
What is the pathophysiology and causative organism of Trichomoniasis?
Trichomonas Vaginalis - Protozoa with flagella
Most common non-viral STI worldwide
Is passed by sexual contact, never MSM though
What are the signs and symptoms of Trichomoniasis?
Symptoms
- Asymptomatic
- Frothy green-yellow discharge
- Vulval itching or soreness
- Malodorous
- Dysuria
- Abdominal pain
Signs
-
Women:
- Frothy green-yellow discharge
- Vulval inflammation
- Cervical inflammation (often described as ‘strawberry cervix’)
-
Men:
- Usually no signs
- Rarely balanitis
How is trichomoniasis investigated and diagnosed?
MICROSCOPY FOR DIAGNOSIS!!!!!!
- pH test from lateral wall of vagina will show pH>4.5
- High vaginal swab from posterior fornix for MC+S
- First catch urine or urethral swab from men
- STI screening for other STIs
How is trichomoniasis treated?
- Oral metronidazole: abstain from sex for 1 week after both themselves and partner treated
- Contact tracing: last 4 weeks needs treatment
What are the complications of a trichomoniasis infection?
Increased risk of
- Contracting HIV by damaging the vaginal mucosa
- Infertility
- Bacterial vaginosis
- Cervical and prostate cancer
- Pelvic inflammatory disease
- Pregnancy-related complications such as preterm delivery.
What is the difference between charcoal swabs and NAAT swabs?
Charcoal
- Used for microscopy, culture, sensitivities and gram staining
- Taken endocervical or high vaginal
- Used for organisms shown on image
NAAT
- Used to look for DNA and RNA
- Used for gonorrhoea and chlamydia
- Men: first catch urine or urethral swab
- Women: endocervical, vulvovaginal or first-catch urine
- Can also do pharyngeal and rectal if oral and anal sex
- If test +ve for Gonorrhoea need MC+S charcoal swab to confirm
What organism causes Chlamydia and what are the risk factors for this?
Chlamydia Trachomatis (Gram Negative Bacteria)
- Age < 25 years
- New sexual partner
- Unprotected sexual intercouse
- ≥1 partner over last year
- Concurrent STI
- Previous STI
How does chlamydia present in men and women?
Women
- USUALLY ASYMPTOMATIC
- Abnormal vaginal discharge
- IMB or PCB
- Deep pelvic pain
- Dyspareunia
- Dysuria
Men
- Urethral discharge or discomfort
- Dysuria
- Epididymo-orchitis
- Reactive arthritis
How is Chlamydia diagnosed and managed?
Ix
- NAAT: either endocervical, vulvovaginal, urethral, first-catch urine, pharyngeal, rectal
Mx
- Doxycycline or Azithromycin BD for 7 days
- If pregnant then Azithromycin 1g stat then 500mg once a day for 2 days
- Contact trace
- Abstain from sex until treatment done or for 7 days if single dose treatment
- Test for and treat other STIs
- Give advice on how to avoid in the future
What are the complications with a chlamydia infection?
- Epididymo-orchitis
- PID
- Chronic pelvic pain
- Infertility
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Conjunctivitis
- Lymphogranuloma venereum
- Reactive arthritis
Pregnancy-related:
- Preterm delivery
- Premature rupture of membranes
- Low birth weight
- Postpartum endometritis
- Neonatal infection (conjunctivitis and pneumonia)