Sexual & Genitourinary medicine Flashcards
What swabs are involved in sexual health testing?
- Charcoal swabs
- Nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) swabs
What are charcoal swabs used for?
- Allow for microscopy (w/ gram staining), culture & sensitivities
- Swab with Amies transport medium at the end: contains chemical solution to keep microorganisms alive during transport
- Can be used for endocervical swabs and high vaginal swabs
What are NAAT swabs used for?
- Check directly for DNA or RNA of the organism
- Specifically for chlamydia & Gonorrhoea
- When gonorrhoea is suspected on NAAT test –> endocervical charcoal swab required for MC+S
How can NAAT swabs be taken for both men and women? (in order of preference)
- Women: endocervical, vulvovaginal, then first-catch urine
- Men: first-catch urine then urethral swab
Rectal & pharyngeal NAAT swabs - diagnose chlamydia in rectum & throat where anal or oral sex has occured
What are the ‘triple swabs’?
- Endocervical - “ECS”
- High Vaginal - “HVS”
- Endocervical NAAT - “Chlamydia”
What does each swab test for in the triple swab?
- ECS (charcoal): Gonorrhoea
- HVS (charcoal): TB & BV, group B strep, candida
- NAAT: Chlamydia & Gonorrhoea
What is the difference between double and triple swabs?
Double swabs:
* NAAT & HVS in charcoal
Triple swabs:
* NAAT & HVS in charcoal & ECS in charcoal
What is thrush?
(vaginal candidiasis)
Vaginal infection with a yeast of the candida family - MC is candida albicans
How does thrush come about?
- Candida may colonise the vagina without causing symptoms
- It then progresses to infection when the right environment occurs
- e.g. during pregnancy, after Tx with broad-spectrum ABx that alter vaginal flora
What are 4 risk factors for developing thrush?
- Increased oestrogen - e.g. in pregnancy (lower pre-puberty & post-menopause)
- Poorly controlled diabetes
- Immunosuppression - e.g. using corticosteroids
- Broad-spectrum ABx
What are the symptoms of vaginal candidiasis (thrush)? (2)
- Thick white discharge that does not typically smell
- Vulval & vaginal itching, irritation or discomfort
What can more severe vaginal candidiasis infection lead to? (6)
- Erythema
- Fissures
- Oedema
- Dyspareunia (pain during sex)
- Dysuria
- Excoriation
What investigations can be done for vaginal candidiasis?
- Testing vaginal pH using a swab and pH paper - to differentiate between BV/TV and candidiasis
- Charcoal swab with microscopy can confirm Dx
What is the difference in pH between bacterial vaginosis/trichomonas and candidiasis?
- BV/TV = pH > 4.5
- Candidiasis = pH < 4.5
What are the treatment options for vaginal candidiasis (thrush)?
- Antifungal cream: clotrimazole inserted into vagina
- Antifungal pessary: clotrimazole
- Oral antifungal tablets: fluconazole
AKA antifungal medications!!
What is the standard over-the-counter treatment for thrush?
Canesten Duo
* contains single fluconazole tablet & clotrimazole cream to use externally for vulval Sx
What is the most common STI in the UK?
Chlamydia
What kind of organism is Chlamydia trachomatis?
Gram negative bacteria
* Intracellular organism: enters & replicates within cells before rupturing the cell and spreading to others
What increases your risk of catching chlamydia?
- Young
- Sexually active
- Multiple partners
What is the National Chlamydia Screening programme (NCSP)?
- Aims to screen every sexually active person under 25 years for chlamydia
- Annually or when they change their sexual partner
- Everyone that tests positive should have a re-test 3 months after Tx (to make sure they have not contracted chlamydia again)
When a patient attends GUM clinic for STI screening, what is the minimum they are tested for?
- Chlamydia
- Gonorrhoea
- Syphilis (blood test)
- HIV (blood test)
What is the presentation of chlamydia in sexually active women?
75% cases asymptomatic
* Abnormal vaginal discharge
* Abnormal vaginal bleeding (intermenstrual/postcoital)
* Pelvic pain
* Dyspareunia
* Dysuria
What is the presentation of chlamydia in sexually active men?
50% asymptomatic
* Urethral discharge or discomfort
* Dysuria
* Epididymo-orchitis
* Reactive arthritis
What are the examination findings for chlamydia?
- Pelvic/abdominal tenderness
- Cervical motion tenderness (cervical excitation)
- Inflamed cervix (cervitis)
- Purulent discharge
What is the first line treatment of uncomplicated chlamydia?
100mg doxycycline BD for 7 days
Abstain from sex for 7 days, notify sexual partners for contact tracing, consider safeguarding issues & sexual abuse
When is doxycycline contraindicated?
Pregnancy & breastfeeding
* Alternative options: azithromycin, erythromycin, amoxicillin
What are some complications of chlamydia?
- Pelvic infalmmatory disease
- Chronic pelvic pain
- Infertility
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Epididymo-orchitis
- Conjunctivitis
- Lymphogranuloma venereum
- Reactive arthritis
What are 5 pregnancy related complications of chlamydia?
- Preterm delivery
- PRoM
- Low birthweight
- Postpartum endometritis
- Neonatal infection (conjunctivitis / Pneumonia)
What is lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV)?
- Condition affecting lymphoid tissue around sit of infection with chlamydia
- Most common in men who have sex with men (MSM)
- Occurs in 3 stages: primary, secondary, tertiary
What happens in the 3 stages of LGV?
Primary
* Painless ulcer - on penis, vaginal wall or rectum
Secondary
* Lymphadenitis - swelling, inflammation, pain in lymph nodes infected with bacteria
* Inguinal or femoral lymoh nodes may be affected
Tertiary
* Inflammation of rectum (Proctitis) and anus
* Proctocolitis leads to anal pain, change in bowel habits, tenesmus and discharge
What is the treatment of lymphogranuloma venereum?
100mg doxycycline BD for 21 days
What is chlamydial conjunctivitis?
Usually result of sexual activity when genital fluid comes in contact with conjunctiva of eye (e.g. hand-to-eye spread)
How does chlamydial conjunctivitis present?
- Chronic erythema
- Irritation
- Discharge
- Unilateral
- Lasting more than 2 weeks
What is bacterial vaginosis? (BV)
Overgrowth of anaerobic bacteria in the vagina
* It is NOT an STI
What causes bacterial vaginosis?
- Lactobacilli = healthy vaginal bacterial flora
- These produce lactic acid which keeps the vaginal pH low (< 4.5)
- Acidic environment prevents other bacteria from overgrowing
- Loss of lactobacilli = pH rises
- This more alkaline environment enables anaerobic bacteria to multiply
What bacteria are associated with BV?
- Gardnerella vaginalis (MC)
- Mycoplasma hominis
- Prevotella species
What are some risk factors for BV? (5)
- Multiple sexual partners (although not sexually transmitted)
- Excessive vaginal cleaning (douching, use of cleaning products & vaginal washes)
- Recent ABx
- Smoking
- Copper coil
What is the presentation of BV?
50% ASx
* Fishy-smelling watery grey/white discharge
What investigations are done for BV?
- Vaginal pH - swab and pH paper (normal 3.5-4.5, BV occurs > 4.5)
- Charcoal vaginal swab - microscopy (can be HVS or self-taken low vaginal swab)
How does BV present on microscopy?
Clue cells
* epithelial cells from cervix that have bacteria stuck inside them, usually gardnerella vaginalis
What is the management of BV?
Metronidazole: ABx that targets anaerobic bacteria (given orally or vaginal gel)
* Alternative: clindamycin
* Advise about measures to reduce risk e.g. avoid vaginal irrigation/cleaning with soaps that disrupt natural flora
* Assess risk of other pelvic infections - Chlam & Gon swabs
* ASx doesn’t usually require Tx
What are the complications of BV?
- Increases risk of catching STIs (Chl,Gon,HIV)
In pregnant women:
* Miscarriage
* Preterm delivery
* PRoM
* Chorioamnionitis
* Low birth weight
* Postpartum endometritis
What is trichomonas vaginalis?
- Parasite spread through sexual intercourse & lives in urethra of men, and vagina & urethra of women
- Classed as a protozoan: single-celled organism w/ flagella
What can trichomonas increase the risk of? (5)
- Contracting HIV by damaging vaginal mucosa
- BV
- Cervical cancer
- PID
- Pregnancy-related Cx e.g. preterm delivery
How does trichomonas present?
Up to 50% ASx
* Typically frothy yellow-green vaginal discharge - may have fishy smell
* Itching
* Dysuria
* Dyspareunia
* Balanitis (inflammation to the glans penis)
What does examination of the cervix reveal in trichomonas?
“Strawberry cervix” (colpitis macularis)
* Caused by inflammation (cervicitis)
* Tiny haemorrhages across surface of cervix
Vaginal pH will be raised (> 4.5) like BV
How is a diagnosis of trichomonas made in women?
Charcoal swab with microscopy
* Swab taken from posterior fornix of vagina (alt. self-taken lower vag swab)
How is a diagnosis of trichomonas made in men?
Urethral swab or first-catch urine
What is the management of trichomonas?
Metronidazole
* Refer to GUM for contact tracing
What is Neisseria Gonorrhoea?
- Gram negative diplococcus bacteria
- Infects mucous membranes with a columnar epithelium
- e.g. endocervix, urethra, rectum, conjunctiva and pharynx
- Spreads via contact w/ mucous secretions from infected areas
What increases the risk of infection with gonorrhoea?
- Young
- Sexually active
- Multiple partners
- Having other STIs
What is the genital presentation of gonorrhoea in women?
50% symptomatic
* Odourless purulent discharge, possible green/yellow
* Dysuria
* Pelvic pain
What is the genital presentation of gonorrhoea in men?
90% symptomatic
* Odourless purulent discharge, possibly green/yellow
* Dysuria
* Epididymo-orchitis (testicular pain/swelling)
What are the other presentations of gonorhhoea - rectal, pharyngeal, prostatitis, conjunctivitis?
Rectal
* anal/rectal discomfort & discharge
* often ASx
Pharyngeal
* sore throat
* often ASx
Prostatitis
* perineal pain
* urinary Sx
* prostate tenderness on examination
Conjunctivitis
* erythema
* purulent discharge
How is a diagnosis of gonorrhoea made?
- NAAT - detects RNA/DNA
- Genital infection - swabs (EC, VV, urethral) or first-catch urine sample
- Charcoal endocervical swab - Microscopy, Culture + ABx sensitivities (due to high rates of ABx resistance)
What is the management of uncomplicated gonorrhoea?
- Single dose IM ceftriaxone (if sensitivities NOT known)
- Single dose oral ciprofloxacin (if sensitivities ARE known)
- Follow up “test of cure” with NAAT testing if ASx, or cultures if symptomatic
What is Disseminated gonococcal infection? (DGI)
Complication of untreated gonococcal infection, where bacteria spreads to skin & joints, causing:
* non-specific skin lesions
* polyarthralgia
* migratory polyarthritis
* tenosynovitis
* systemic Sx e.g. fever, fatigue
What are some complications of gonorrhoea?
- PID
- Chronic pelvic pain
- Infertility
- Epididymo-orchitis
- Prostatitis
- Gonococcal conjunctivitis (neonate) - medical emergency
- Urethral strictures
- Disseminated gonococcal infection
- Skin lesions
- Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome
- Septic arthritis
- Endocarditis
What organism is responsible for cold sores and genital herpes?
Herpes simplex virus (HSV)
* Two strains: HSV-1 & HSV-2
What happens after the initial infection of HSV?
Virus becomes latent in the associated sensory nerve ganglia
* Cold sores: trigeminal nerve ganglion
* Genital herpes: sacral nerve ganglia
How is HSV spread?
Through direct contact with affected mucous membranes or viral shedding in mucous secretions
* Virus can be shed even when no Sx are present (i.e. can be contracted from asymptomatic individuals)
What are the 2 strains of HSV and what does each strain cause?
- HSV-1: cold sores, often contracted in childhood & remains dormant in trigeminal nerve ganglion, reactivates as cold sores#
- HSV-2: genital herpes, STI, can also cause lesions in mouth
HSV-1 can cause genital herpes usually contracted through oro-genital sex
What is the presentation of genital herpes?
- Ulcers/ blistering lesions affecting genital area
- Neuropathic pain (tingling/burning/shooting)
- Flu-like Sx (e.g. fatigue, headache)
- Dysuria
- Inguinal lymphadenopathy
What other ways can HSV present (not genital)?
- Aphthous ulcers (painful oral sores)
- Herpes keratitis (cornea inflammation)
- Herpetic whitlow (painful skin lesion on finger/thumb)
How is a diagnosis of genital herpes made?
- Clinically made
- Ask about sexual contacts inc. those w/ cold sores
- Viral PCR swab from lesion can confirm Dx & causative organism
What is the management of genital herpes?
- Aciclovir
- Manage Sx: paracetamol, topical lidocaine (instillagel), avoid intercorse etc.
- Refer to GUM
What issues can arise from having genital herpes when pregnant?
- Risk of neonatal herpes simplex infection contracted during labour/delivery
- Has high morbidity & mortality
What is the management of genital herpes in pregnancy?
Depends whether it is the first episode or recurrent
* Primary genital herpes: (contracted before 28 weeks) –> Aciclovir followed by prophylactic aciclovir
* Recurrent genital herpes: regular prophylactic aciclovir from 36 weeks gestation