Infections of the Reproductive System Flashcards
What does cervical excitation upon bimanual examination indicate?
Potential upper genital tract infection.
What is screened for in a standard STI screen?
Chlamydia
Gonorrhoea
HIV
Syphillis
Alongside the standard screen, what should be tested for in a female presenting with discharge?
Bacterial vaginosis
Candida
Trichomonas vaginalis
In females, how is a sample for a gonorrhoea/chlamydia NAAT test obtained?
Vulvovaginal swab performed prior to speculum exam.
Why is a vulvovaginal swab carried out prior to a speculum exam?
As speculum lubricant can impair the sensitivity of the test.
How is a sample for gonorrhoea/chlamydia NAAT test obtained in males?
A first void urine - must be held for atleast an hour.
In addition to the first void urine, in MSM, what other area(s) are sampled for a gonorrhoea/chlamydia NAAT test?
Throat and/or rectal swab
Dependent on sexual history
What is a high WCC at the cervix suggestive of?
Pelvic inflammatory disease
How is chlamydia treated?
100mg bd doxycycline for 1 week OR azithromycin 1g and 0.5g for 2 days after.
If chlamydia is accompanied by PID, what is given?
Ceftriaxone 1g IM
Doxycycline 100mg bd for 2 weeks
Metronidazole 400mg bd for 2 weeks
GIVE ALL THREE.
What is the most common STI?
Chlamydia
How do most cases of chlamydia present?
Most don’t - usually asymptomatic.
What forms of sex can spread chlamydia?
Anal
Oral
Vaginal
How long do symptoms of chlamydia take to present?
20-24 days
What is pelvic inflammatory disease?
Infection of the upper genital tract.
Affects the uterus, uterine tubes and ovaries.
What increases following an episode of PID?
Risk of ectopic pregnancy
Tubal factor infertility
What are the symptoms of chlamydia experienced in males?
Milky urethral discharge
Abdominal pain
Dysuria
What are the symptoms of chlamydia experienced in females?
Irregular bleeding
Abdominal pain
What are the potential complications of chlamydia?
PID (chlamydia linked to 50% of all cases of PID).
Tubal damage
Chronic pelvic pain
Conjunctivitis/Pneumonia of the neonate (spread from the mother)
Reactive arthritis
After how long should chlamydia testing be carried out following a potential exposure?
14 days
Does vaginal discharge present in all with chlamydia?
No
What % of women treated for chlamydia are reinfected within a year?
20%
What is lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV)?
Infection caused by serovars of chlamydia.
In which group is LGV most commonly seen?
MSM
What are the symptoms of LGV?
Rectal pain
Discharge
Bleeding
A patient presenting with a mucopurulent discharge is suggestive of what?
Gonorrhoea
What % of urethral gonorrhoea cases have discharge?
> 90%
Accompanied by dysuria.
If patient is suspected of having gonorrhoea, where else should be swabbed, regardless of symptoms?
Pharynx
Rectum
How is gonorrhoea investigated?
Chlamydia/Gonorrhoea NAAT test
Microscopy (if symptomatic)
Culture
What is microscopy?
The use of a microscope in order to view a sample.
In which gender is a culture more sensitive?
Males
What type of bacteria is gonorrhoea?
A gram negative intracellular diplococcus.
What is the treatment for gonorrhoea?
1g IM ceftriaxone
If unable to tolerate IM, give 400mg cefixime orally, plus 2g azithromycin.
After how long should gonorrhoea be re-tested to ensure clearance of infection?
2 weeks
Which gender most commonly suffers from chlamydia?
Females
Which gender most commonly suffers gonorrhoea?
Men
What are the presentations of mycoplasma genitarium?
Non-gonococcal urethritis
PID
Asymptomatic carriage
What STI is associated with high levels of macrolide resistance?
Mycoplasma genitarium
Are genital ulcers only of viral origin?
No - check for systemic symptoms
How are genital ulcers investigated?
Chlamydia/Gonorrhoea NAAT test
Viral swab
Amies swab
Serology for HIV/Syphilis
How is HSV1 treated?
Oral aciclovir
Consider lidocaine (patch test first) if very painful
Advise saline baths and analgesia
How long is genital herpes incubated for?
3-6 days
How long do the symptoms of genital herpes persist for?
2-3 weeks
What are the symptoms of genital herpes?
Blistering/Ulceration Pain External dysuria Vaginal/Urethral discharge Local lymphadenopathy Fever/Myalgia
Which form of herpes is often responsible for recurrent episodes?
HSV2
Which form of herpes is usually linked to first occurrence at the genitalia?
HSV1
Is treatment needed in HSV2?
Not always, usually just simple analgesia and rest.
What is viral shedding?
Expulsion of the virus following reproduction.
Which form of herpes is associated with a greater rate of viral shedding?
HSV2
How long does an episode of HSV2 normally last?
5-7 days.
What organism is responsible for syphilis?
Treponema pallidum
How can syphilis be transmitted?
Sexually
Trans-placental
What stages of syphilis encompass early infection?
Primary
Secondary
Early latent
How will both primary and secondary syphilis present?
Both present with signs and symptoms.
How does early latent syphilis present?
Patient will be asymptomatic however has a positive serology.
What are the late/non-infectious stages of syphilis infection?
Late-latent
Tertiary
How are the early-latent and late-latent phases of syphilis differentiated?
If infected in last 2 years - early latent.
If over 2 years since infection - late latent.
Why is it important to know whether syphilis is in the early latent or late latent phase?
As treatment schedules differ for the two.
How is latent syphilis staged?
Use of previous screening data.
How long following primary syphilis infection does it take to advance to tertiary infection?
20-40 years