Chapter 15 Flashcards
What is the causative agent of syphilis?
Trepnema pallidum
Pallidum pallidum (corkscrew shape)
Cannot be cultivated in laboratory media
Why was it changed from STD’s to STI’s?
To include those who are asymptomatic
What are among the top reportable diseases in Canada?
Chlamydia, Gonorrhea
If you find an incident, you must report it to Health Canada
What is the incubation time of pallidum pallidum?
1-90 days, which makes it difficult to track
Occurs more in males
What is the clinical manifestation of primary phase syphilis?
Chancres (skin lesions) at the site of inoculation
Usually painless and heals spontaneously but highly infectious
What are the clinical manifestations of secondary phase syphilis?
The disease can begin to be disseminated (all over body) 2-12 weeks after infection
Skin lesions on trunk, palms, soles of feet with highly infectious fluid
Other organ involvement
Symptoms with disappear in 3-12 weeks
What can the secondary phase of syphilis be followed by?
An asymptomatic latent phase (3-30 years) with antibodies present
What are the 3 outcomes of an untreated syphilis patient in the latent phase?
Relapse, no relapse or move to the tertiary phase
What are the clinical manifestations of tertiary phase syphilis?
Neurologic, cardiovascular symptoms
Possibly with Gummas (nonspecific deep granulomatous lesions)
Organism is eating skin up from beneath it
How does congenital syphilis occur?
When mothers have untreated/improperly syphilis
How does congenital syphilis present?
As secondary syphilis at birth (lesions all over the body), miscarriage, may not appear until age 2
How can we prevent congenital syphilis?
If women are screen in early pregnancy and treated with penicillins
How can syphilis be diagnosed using microscopy?
Using dark field or fluorescent microscopy
What is the first step to diagnosing syphilis using serology?
VDRL (Venereal Disease Research Laboratory Test), RPR (Rapid Plasma Reagin test)
First do non-specific (non-treponemal) test to look for non-tremponemal antibodies against the antigens released from destroyed cells.
If the test if negative, true negative. If the test is positive, look for treponemal antibodies
What is the second part of diagnosing syphilis using serology?
Look for the treponemal antibodies released from pallidum
FTA-ABS (fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption)
MHA-TP (microhemagglutination test)
TP-PA test (Treponema pallidum particle agglutination test)
How is syphilis treated?
Using penicillin and doxycycline
Can prevent secondary and tertiary syphilis by early diagnosis and treatment
What is the causative agent of gonorrhoea?
Neisseria gonorrhoeae (gram negative diplococci) capnophile (CO2 loving) with humid atmospheres
Where does neisseria gonorrhoeae colonize?
Female reproductive tract (cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes), urethra, mouth, throat, eyes and anus
What is the chance of each gender acquiring gonorrhoea post single encounter?
Females have a 50% chance
Males have a 20% chance
What is ophthalmia neonatorum?
The vertical transmission of gonorrhoea from an infected mother to her baby during childbirth
What are the virulence factors of neisseria gonorrhoeae?
Pili aiding in attachment to human mucosal epithelium (constant and hypervariable regions)
Por proteins (form pores)
Opa proteins (assist binding to epithelium)
LOS (endotoxin)
IgA protease
Capsule (resists phagocytosis)
Rmp proteins (inhibits cidal activity of serum)
What are the clinical manifestations of gonorrhea in females?
Often asymptomatic, but if they are present they will develop in 2-7 days (vaginal discharge)
What are the complications of untreated gonorrhea in females?
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), chronic pelvic pain and infertility
What are the clinical manifestations of gonorrhea in males?
Purulent urethral discharge and painful discharge