GUM Flashcards
Name infectious causes of urethral discharge and the aetiological agent
- Gonococcal urethritis (Neisseria Gonorhea)
- Non-gonococcal urethritis (no aetiology, Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma genitalium, Trichomonas vaginalis, Candida albicans)
- Intra-urethral ulcers (HSV)
- Intra-urethral warts (HPV)
Name a non-infectious cause of urethral causes
Physiological trauma
Infectious causes (+ causative organism) of vaginal discharge
Vaginal infections:
* Candida albicans
* Gardnerella vaginalis
* Trichomonas vaginalis
Cervical infections:
* Chlamydia trachomatis
* Neisseria gonorrhoeae
* Herpes simplex virus (HSV)
* Human Papilloma virus (HPV)
* Treponema pallidum
All except candida and gardnerella are sexually transmitted
Non-infectious causes of vaginal discharge
Vaginal:
* Physiological trauma
* FB (retained tampons)
* Retained products
Cervical:
* Carcinoma of the cervix (linked with HPV infection)
Infectious causes of genital ulcers (and causative organism)
Multiple and painful:
* Herpetic (HSV)
* Chancroid (Haemophilus ducreyi)
* Scabies (Sarcopetes scabiei)
Single and painful:
* TB (M. tuberculosis)
* Bacterial infection (Staphylococcus aureus)
Multiple and painless (Treponema pallidum)
Single and painless:
* Primary syphilis (Treponema pallidum)
* Lmphgranuloma venerium (LGV) (Chlamydia trachomatis (LGV serovar))
* Granuloma inguinale (Klebsiella granulomatis (Donovanosis)
Non-infectious diseases of genital ucers
- Behcet’s disease
- Steven Johnson syndrome
- Carcinomas
Causative organism of chlamydia and transmission
Chlamydia Trachomatis (obligate intracellular bacteria)
Transmission = sex + vertical
Risk factors for chlamydia
- Under 25
- New sexual partner
- > 1 sexual partner/year
- No condoms
Clinical features of chlamydia in women and men
Women
* Symptoms: asymptomatic (70%), dysuria, pelvic pain
* Signs: Increased vaginal discharge, post coital/intermenstrual bleeding
Men:
* Symptoms: asymptomatic (50%), dysuria, testicular pain
* Signs: Urethral discharge
Ix and management for chlamydia
Ix:
* Nucleic acid amplification technique (NAAT)
* Test for LGV in MSM with rectal chlamydia
Management:
* Doxycycline 100mg BD for 7 days (NB Doxycycline = contraindicated in pregnancy)
* Alternative: Azithromycin 1G OD day 1, 500mg OD day 2+3
Advice + test of cure in chlamydia
Advice:
* No sexual contact for 1 week
* PIL leaflet on condition
* Health advisor on contact tracing
Test of cure (TOC):
* Retest in 3 months if under 25
* TOC in 6 weeks if pregnant or rectal infection
Complications of chlamydia
Males:
* Epididymo-orchitis (red, swollen, tender hemiscrotum)
* Prostatitis (dysuria, haematuria, haematospermia, urgency)
* Urethral structure (inflammation in the urethra can lead to fibrosis of the lumen)
Females:
* Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) = infection of the uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries and inside the pelvis due to bacterial spread
* Peritoneal spread (Fitz-High-Curtis syndrome; inflammation of the liver capsule without parenchymal involvement - presents with RUQ pain)
* Problems in pregnancy (miscarriage, ectopic pregnancies, preterm delivery, congenital infections, vertical transmission - causing chlamydial conjunctivitis + pneumonia in newborn)
* Infertility
General complications:
* Reactive arthritis - an autoimmune arthritis (triad of conjuctivitis, urethritis, arthritis - ‘can’t see, can’t pee, can’t climb a tree’)
* Trachoma (granular conjunctivitis of the inner eyelids resulting in eye discharge, swollen eyelids and trichiasis (misdirected eyelashes))
* Lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) = infection of the lymphatic vessels + nodes
Causative organism of gonorrhoea and transmission
Neisseria Gonorrhoea (gram-negative diplococcus)
Transmission: Sexual contact, vertical
A 23 y/o male presents to the GP with dysuria and ‘pus coming out of the penis’. His history includes 9 sexual partners in the last 3 months, none of whoch he used a condom with. O/E there is yellow discharge from the urethral meatus. Underlying diagnosis?
Gonorrhoea
Clinical features of gonorrhoea
Women:
* Symptoms: Asymptomatic (50%), pelvic pain (25%), dysuria (12%)
* Signs: Mucopurulent discharge (50%)
Males:
* Symptoms: Asymptomatic (<10%), dysuria (50%)
* Signs: Mucopurulent discharge (80%)
Ix and management for gonorrhoea
Ix:
* Microscopy (sensitivity 90-95% if discharge present, 50% if not)
* NAAT (sensitivity >96%)
* Culture (important due to increasing antibiotic resistance with GC)
Treatment:
* Ceftriaxone 1g IM (mixed with 3.5msl 1% lidocaine)
* Ciprofloxacin 500mg PO stat FIRST-LINE (where sensitivities available prior to treatment)
Advice and TOC for gonorrhoea
Advice:
* No sexual contact for 1 week after patient and their partner are treated
* PIL leaflet on condition
* Health advisor for contact tracing
TOC: 2 weeks after treatment
Complications of gonorrhoea
Men → epididymo-orchitis; Women → PID
Males:
* Urethral stricture (chronic inflammation leads to fibrosis)
* Infertility (chronic epididymitis can lead to infertility)
Females:
* PID (increases the risk of tubal infertility)
* Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome (peritoneal spread can lead to perihepatitis (inflammation of the liver capsule without parenchymal involvement) which presents with RUQ pain
* Pregnancy issues (risk of miscarriage, congenital malformations, vertical transmission)
Disseminated infection:
* Septic arthritis
* Temosynovitis
* Meningitis
* Infective endocarditis
* Dermatitis (Vesicular, pustular or maculopapular lesions)
* Polyarthalgia
Causative organisms of non-specific urethritis (NSU)/ non-gonococcal urethritis
- No cause found in 50%, chlamydia trachomatis up to 45%
- Mycoplasma genitalium 10-25%
- Trichomonas vaginalis 1-20%
- Ureaplasma urealyticum 5-10%
- UTI <6%, adenoviruses 2-4%
- Herpes Simplex Virus 2-3%
- Candida, trauma, irritation, urethral stricture, lichen sclerosis, urinary calculi
Risk factors and transmission of Non-Specific Urethritis (NSU) / non-gonococcal urethritis
Risk factors:
* Sexually active
* Unprotected sex
* Homo/bisexual
* Aged <35
* Multiple partners
Transmission:
* Sexual
Clinical features and complications of Non-Specific Urethritis (NSU) / non-gonococcal urethritis
Clinical features:
* Asymptomatic
* Urethral discharge
* Dysuria
Complications:
* Epididymo-orchitis
* Sexually acquired reactive arthritis
Ix and management for Non-Specific Urethritis (NSU) / non-gonococcal urethritis
Ix:
* Microscopy: gram stained urethral smear (diagnose if >5 pus cells per film)
* Culture
* First pass urine (FPU) to test for gonorrhoea/chlamydia and mycoplasma
* Urinalysis
* MSU
Management:
Doxycycline 100mg BD 7 days
What is the causative organisma and transmission of Trichomonas vaginalis
Flagellated protozoon
Transmission: sexual contact
A 19-year-old female presents to the GUM clinic with a three-day history of foul-smelling, green, frothy discharge from her vagina. She has had 9 sexual partners in the last 3 months. Underlying diagnosis?
Trichomoniasis
Clinical features of trichomoniasis in men and women
Men:
* Symptoms: Asymptomatic (15-50%), thin white urethral discharge, dysuria, frequency
Women:
* Symptoms: Asymptomatic (15-50%), yellow frothy discharge, vulval itching, dysuria, pelvic pain, dyspareunia
* Signs: Yellow-green discharge coating the vaginal walls, particularly the posterior fornix, ‘strawberry cervix’
“Strawberry” cervix : pathognomonic but only seen in 2% of cases
Which STI involves yellow-green frothy discharge from the vagina and a ‘strawberry cervix’?
Trichomoniasis
(Trichomonas vaginalis)
Ix and management for trichomonas vaginalis
Ix
Women:
* Wet slide from posterior fornix
* High vaginal swab → bacterial culture, PCR
Males:
* Urethral/ first pass urine culture in males
Treatment:
* Metronidazole 400mg PO BID x 7 days
Microbiology of bacterial vaginosis and transmission
Microbiology:
* Vaginal pH>4.5 (alkaline)
* Normal vaginal flora (lactobacilli) = dominated by anaerobes e.g. gardnerella vaginalis → causing symptoms of BV
Transmission: Not sexually transmitted
A 23-year-old female sex worker presents to the GUM clinic with a 5-day history of fishy-smelling vaginal discharge. She uses vaginal douches regularly. Vaginal examination reveals a thin, white discharge on the vaginal walls. Diagnosis?
Bacterial vaginosis
Clinical features and complicatiosn of bacterial vaginosis
Clinical features:
* 50% asymptomatic
* Foul-smelling ‘fishy’ vaginal odour
* Greyish-white discharge
* Sign: Vagina will NOT appear inflamed or irritated
Complications:
* Increased risk of other STIs (2x HIV)
* In pregnancy → associated with miscarriage, preterm birth/PROM, postpartum endometritis
Ix and management for bacterial vaginosis
Ix:
* Vaginal pH test: >4.5
* High vaginal swab (from prosterior fornix) → cultured and gram-stained
Management:
* Metronidazole 2g STAT
* Metronidazole 400mg PO BID for 7 days
Advice:
* Written and verbal information on prevention e.g. washing only with water, avoiding soaps/shower gels/bubble bath, avoiding washing hair in bath
Microbiology and transmission of thrush
Microbiology: Candida albicans (80-92%) + some other non-albican species
Transmission: Not sexually transmitted
Risk factors for thrush
- Uncontrolled diabtes mellitus
- Immunosuppression
- Hyperoestrogenaemia (including HRT and the COCP)
- Broad-spectrum antibiotics
Clinical features of thrush in men and women
Women:
* Vulval itch + soreness
* Vaginal discharge (curdy, non-offensive)
* Superficial dyspareunia
* External dysuria, erythema, fissurig, excoriation
Men:
* Red skin, swelling, irritation
* Soreness + itchness
* Phimosis
* Dysuria
* Dyspareunia
Complications: Chronic/recurrent infection in men → leads to phimosis
Phimosis = inability to retract foreskin
Ix and treatment of thrush
Ix:
* Routine microscopy
* MCS (black charcoal swab)
Treatment:
* Clotrimazole pessary 500mg stat
* Clotrimazole 10% vaginal swab
Advice:
* Washing only with water, avoid soaps/shower gels/bubble bath, wearing cotton underwear, avoid thongs
What virus causes genital herpes?
Herpes simplex virus (HSV)
- HSV type 1- the usual cause of oral herpes (cold sores)
- HSV type 2- historically associated with sexual transmission
- (note either type can cause both oral and genital herpes)
What is the natural history of herpes simplex virus?
Primary infection → virus = becomes latent in sensory ganglia → periodically reactivating to cause symptomatic lesions or asymptomatic viral shedding
Clinical features of genital herpes
- Asymptomatic (80%)
- Painful blisters + ulcers, dysuria, tender inguinal lymphadentitis, discharge, fever myalgia
Complications of genital herpes
- Urinary retention
- Aseptic meningitis
- Adhesions
Ix for genital herpes
HSV DNA detection by PCR - from base of ulcer
Treatment of genital herpes
ACICLOVIR
- Primary herpes → Aciclovir 400mg TDS (5 days); topical anaesthetic agents
- Recurrences of herpes → Aciclovir 800mg TDS (2 days)
Advice:
* Saline bathing, regular analgesia, advice try urinating in the bath
* PIL on condition
* Does not need partner notification
What is the causative organism and transmission route for genital warts
- Genital warts → Human papillomavirus (HPV)
- Transmission → skin-to-skin contact
Clinical features of genital warts
- Most asymptomatic
- Can appear from 3 weeks to years after exposure to the virus
- More common in pregnancy due to immune suppression
- Fleshy lumps, itching, distorted flow of urine if present in urethra