cervical infections Flashcards
most common causes of intectious cervicitis
Neisseria gonorrheoeae Chlamydia trachomatis herpes simples virus human papilloma virus trichomoniasis mycoplasma genitalium cytomegalovirus bacterial vaginosis
If untreated, cervicitis can lead to
Pelvic inflammatory disease
higher risk of infertility
ectopic pregnancy
chronic pelvic pain
methods for testing gonorrhea
urethral gram stain
culture on Thayer-Martin media
DNA probes
DNA amplification techniques on cervical or urine specimens
Testing for chlamydia
nucleic acid amplification techniques on cervical or urine specimens
HPV infection testing
cervical cytology (Pap test) and HPV testing are used with colposcopy and biopsy
The signs of cervicitis
edema and increased vascularity, making the cervix appear swollen and reddened.
Cervicitis can be diagnosed histologically when
polymorphonuclear leukocytes, lymphocytes, or histiocytes are noted
The cervix is in direct contact with the vagina and is exposed to
viral, bacterial, fungal, and parasitic agents
Cervical infections occur in the absence of
vaginal disease
Through sexual contact, the cervix may be infected with
N gonorrhoeae, C trachomatis, HSV, HPV, and Mycoplasma spp.
Why is screening high-risk populations important?
Because many women are asymptomatic
Patients diagnosed with gonorrhea or chlamydia are at risk for infection with other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Counseling and testing should be offered for
syphilis, hepatitis B, and HIV, as well as testing for HPV
Pathogenesis of C trachomatis
C trachomatis is often “silent,” an undiagnosed, ongoing infection may ascend into the endometrial cavity to the fallopian tubes, causing salpingitis as well as pelvic peritonitis.
Complications of chlamydia
With the cervix as a reservoir, the organism may infect the fetus during its passage through the birth canal. C trachomatis transmitted to the eyes causes trachoma and inclusion conjunctivitis or pneumonia of the newborn.
Pathogenesis of N. gonorrhoeae
Cervical infection which ascends to infect the endometrium and fallopian tubes.
At what time in a woman’s cycle is she most at risk for cervicitis ascending into the upper reproductive tract?
at the end of menses when there is no protective mucus plug.
Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome or perihepatitis
rare complication usually caused by C trachomatis and N gonorrhoeae and is characterized by adhesions between the liver and the parietal peritoneum.
2 types of HSV
herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2)
Which HSV infection causes most of the genital herpes infections
HSV-2
When can HSV-1 cause genital herpes
oral-genital or genital-genital contact
HSV infection presentation
cervical lesions similar to those found on the vulva. First the lesion is vesicular and then becomes an ulcer. Primary infections may be extensive and severe, producing constitutional symptoms of low-grade fever, myalgia, and malaise lasting approximately 2 weeks. The ulcers heal without scarring. Once infection has occurred, even after healing, the virus continues to reside in the nerve cells of the affected area for life.
HSV recurrence
less severe in symptoms and duration
HSV is found in the lesions caused by HSV infection, but viral shedding can also occur
in asymptomatic patients without obvious lesions. Women with either active infection or asymptomatic HSV shedding from normal-appearing skin can infect their infants during vaginal delivery. Those with a positive HSV test near term are advised to undergo caesarean section.
HPV is spread by
skin-to-skin contact