IC18 STIs Flashcards
What is the general mode of transmission of STIs?
- sexual contact
- direct contact of broken skin w open sores, blood, genital discharge
- transfusion with contaminated blood & blood pdts
- mother-to-child (pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding)
What are the risk factors for acquiring STIs?
- unprotected sex with infected people
- multiple sex partners / sexual contact w ppl w multiple sex partners
- commercial sex workers
- MSM
- illicit drug use
What are some methods available to prevent STIs?
- abstinence
- male latex condom
- avoid drug use & sharing of needles
- pre-exposure vax (HPV, Hep B)
- pre & post exposure prophylaxis (HIV)
What are the STIs taught in the IC?
- gonorrhoea
- chlamydia
- syphilis
- genital herpes
What bacteria causes gonorrhoea?
Neisseria gonorrhoea
What are the modes of transmission of gonorrhoea?
- sexual contact
- mother to child during childbirth
What are some methods for diagnosis of gonorrhoea?
- gram-stain of genital fluids
- culture
- NAAT
What is unique about Neisseria gonorrhoea?
It can spread and infect multiple sites, such as urethra (urethritis), cervix (cervicitis), rectal area (proctitis), pharynx (pharyngitis), eyes (conjunctivitis) and cause disseminated disease throughout the body
What are the possible clinical presentations of gonorrhoea?
- asymptomatic
- symptomatic, showing
> dysuria (pain)
> urinary frequency
> genital discharge (purulent urethral discharge for men, mucopurulent vaginal discharge for women)
What are some possible complications of gonorrhoea in males?
- epididymitis
- prostatitis
- urethral stricture
What are some possible complications of gonorrhoea in females?
- pelvic inflammatory disease
- ectopic pregnancy
- infertility
What is the most dangerous complication of gonorrhoea?
disseminated disease
- skin lesions
- monoarticular arthritis
- tenosynovitis (ifxn of joints & tendons)
What is the unique feature of gonorrhoea treatment?
as gonorrhoea and chlamydia are hard to differentiate, treat for both unless one test excludes one of them
Do we have to test for cure for gonorrhoea?
Yes
What is the first line antibiotic for gonorrhoea?
Ceftriaxone
What are the weight based dosings of ceftriaxone for gonorrhoea?
<150 kg: 500 mg IM inj single dose
≥150 kg: 1g IM inj single dose
What is the treatment for chlamydia when concurrently treating with gonorrhoea?
Doycycline 100mg BD x 7 days
What is the alternative regimen for gonorrhea in the event of penicillin allergy?
Gentamicin 240mg IM single inj
+
Azithromycin 2g PO single dose
What is the counselling points for gonorrhoea patients with regards to sexual contact and their sexual partners?
- all sexual contacts within the past 60 days need to be evaluated and treated
- if there was no sexual contact within the past 60 days, only the most recent sexual contact needs to be evaluated
- abstain from sex for 7 days after the injection / during the 7 days of treatment for doxy + when symptoms resolve (if symptomatic at the start)
- abstain from sex until all sex partners have been treated
What is the bacteria that causes chlamydia?
Chlamydia trachomatis
What is the mode of transmission of chlamydia?
- sexual contact
- mother to child during childbirth
What is the method of diagnosis of chlamydia?
NAAT
Describe the clinical presentation of chlamydia
same as gonorrhea, but might be milder
- asymptomatic
- symptomatic
> dysuria (pain)
> urinary frequency
> genital discharge (purulent urethral discharge in M, mucopurulent vaginal discharge in F)
Is test of cure required for chlamydia?
No, unless there are some concerns involving chlamydia eg. pregnancy, non-adherence, symptoms persisting
What is the first line antibiotic for chlamydia?
Doxycycline
What is the dosing regimen of doxycycline for chlamydia?
100mg BD for 7 days
What is the alternative regimen for chlamydia in the event of penicillin allergy?
- azithro 1g PO single dose (good for non-adherence)
- levo 500mg OD x 7 days
What is the counselling points for chlamydia patients with regards to sexual contact and their sexual partners?
- all sexual contacts within the past 60 days need to be evaluated and treated
- if there was no sexual contact within the past 60 days, only the most recent sexual contact needs to be evaluated
- abstain from sex for 7 days after single azithro dose / during the 7 days of treatment for doxy + when symptoms resolve (if symptomatic at the start)
- abstain from sex until all sex partners have been treated
What is the bacteria that causes syphilis?
Treponema pallidum
What is the mode of transmission of syphilis?
- sexual contact
- mother to child DURING pregnancy
What are the methods for diagnosis of syphilis?
- darkfield microscopy of exudates from lesions
- treponemal & nontreponemal serology test
What does treponemal & nontreponemal serology testing detect?
Ab against treponemal pallidum bacteria
Since treponemal and nontreponemal testing are considered serology tests, what biological sample do we use for these tests?
blood sample
unless neurosyphilis - CSF
What are the two tests conducted for treponemal test?
- TPPA
- TPHA
What does treponemal testing tell us?
to determine if the patient has been exposed to the treponemal pallidum bacteria before
What is the disadvantage of treponemal testing?
positive results indicates that patient HAS been exposed to bacterium before, but might be from current infection or past infection
therefore, patient can remain positive for life but no longer have syphilis
Therefore, what can treponemal testing be used for?
To confirm the diagnosis of syphilis
What are the two tests conducted for nontreponemal test?
- RPR
- VDRL