Sexual Health Flashcards
Organisms causing PID?
- Chlamydia trachomatis (20-30%)
- Neisseria gonorrhoeae (10-15%)
- Mycoplasma genitalium (15%)
Presentation of PID?
- PAIN: lower abdo pain b/L, deep dyspareunia, constant.
- BLEEDING: any irregular (PCB, IMB etc)
- OTHER: change in vaginal discharge (often purulent), recent change in partner?
Signs suggestive of PID on bimanual vaginal examination?
- Adnexal tenderness (sometimes a tender mass)
- Cervical motion tenderness
Investigations for PID?
- PREGNANCY TEST
- VVS for NAAT: chlamydia, gonorrhoea + trichomonas
- Endocervical swab for gonorrhoea culture
- Urine dip + MSU
- Bloods for HIV + Syphilis
Complications of PID?
- Tubal factor infertility
- Chronic dyspareunia + pelvic pain
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Peri-hepatitis (Fitz Hugh Curtis syndrome)
- Tubo-ovarian abscess
What is classic presentation of peri-hepatitis/Fitz Hugh Curtis syndrome?
Women <30yrs, RUQ is highly suggestive of perihepatitis rather than cholecystitis.
(especially related to chlamydia)
Management of PID? (3-step treatment)
- Ceftriaxone 500mg IM (w/ azithromycin if gonorrhoea implicated)
- Doxycycline 100mg BD PO 14days
- Metronidazole 400mg BD PO 7-14days
What does PID caused by mycoplasma genitalium require?
Moxifloxacin
Counselling a woman with PID?
- Inflammation of woman’s reproductive organs.
- 25% caused by an STI
- Easy to treat but untreated causes serious problems
- NO SEX until they + their partner have completed treatment
What is the commonest cause of abnormal discharge in WOCA?
Bacterial Vaginosis (non-STI)
Symptoms/signs of Bacterial Vaginosis?
- Offensive fishy smelling vaginal discharge
- ^vol, thin, watery
- Not assoc w/ soreness, itching, irritation
- Many asymptomatic (50%)
- pH>4.5
What is the Hay/Ison criteria for investigating Bacterial Vaginosis?
Gram stained vaginal smear: mixture of gram +ve/-ve bacteria, as the lactobacilli die off + there is overgrowth of other vaginal flora which is what changes pH.
Treatment for Bacterial Vaginosis?
Conservative: avoid vaginal douching, use of antiseptic agents/ bath products.
Treatment: (indicated for symptomatic women/pts choice) Metronidazole PO/TOP
What different species of Candida are there?
a) Candida albicans 80-92%
b) Non-albicans species e.g. C glabrata, C tropicales, C krusei.
What would you suspect in someone with recurrent Candida?
HIV or diabetes
Risk factors for Candida?
Immune suppression including pregnancy, diabetes.
Antibiotic use.
Elevated oestrogen.
Symptoms of Candida?
Vulval ITCH + soreness
Thick vaginal discharge
Superficial dyspareunia/dysuria
How do you manage uncomplicated Candida?
(oral vs topical- pt preference)
- Clotrimazole pessary 500mg stat
- Fluconazole 150mg PO stat (not in pregnancy)
How do you manage Candida in pregnancy?
Intravaginal Clotrimazole/ Miconazole 7days.
do NOT give ORAL -azoles in pregnancy!!
Presentation of Trichomonas vaginalis?
- 10-50% asymptomatic
- ^vaginal discharge (frothy yellow discharge)
- Vilval itch
- Dysuria
- 2% strawberry cervix
How do you investigate Trichomonas vaginalis?
- Swab from posterior fornix (at spec exam) for wet mount microscopy.
- Vulvovaginal NAAT
Management for Trichomonas vaginalis?
-Metronidazole 2g PO stat
OR
-Metronidazole 400mg BD 5-7days
Management for the male partner in Trichomonas vaginalis?
Metronidazole 400mg BD 7days
What are the classical presentations for the discharge of Gonorrhoea/ Chlamydia?
Gonorrhoea: yellow/green
Chlamydia: profuse+different (+clear/cloudy in men)
(classic but cant generalise)
Where does Chlamydia thrachomatis inhabit?
Endocervix!
Rectum, pharynx, eye, urethra.
(not vagina)
Symptoms of Chlamydia thrachomatis?
- ^vaginal discharge
- Dysuria (if in urethra)
- PCB/IMB
- Deep dyspareunia
- Lower abdo pain
-Mucopurulent cervicitis +/- contact bleeding.
Complications of Chlamydia?
- PID, endometritis, salpingitis
- Tubal infertility
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Reactive arthritis
- Perihepatitis (Fitz-High Curtis syndrome)
Complications of chlamydia in pregnancy?
- 2nd trimester miscarriage
- Growth retardation
- Chlamydia conjunctivitis
What is the window period for investigating chlamydia?
2 weeks (so if the sexual contact was <2wks ago then consider that the infection may not be visible yet) Nb. if they have sx, then test them anyway.
Investigations for Chlamydia ?
- Standard VVS NAAT test
- Can swab different sites if indicated by sx/risk group
- Women w/ rectal sx > refer to GUM!
What is the general advice for managing Chlamydia?
- Avoid sex for 1/52 until they/their partners have completed treatment.
- Test of cure not routine but recommended in pregnancy.
- Non-viable DNA can still be picked up 3-5wks following treatment.
Treatment for Chlamydia?
- Doxycycline 100mg BD for 7/7 (C/I in pregnancy!!)
- If doxy not tolerated/pregnant = Azithromycin 1g PO stat
What is the regime for Chlamydia treatment in pregnancy?
Azithromycin 1g PO stat + 500mg OD for 2 days.
Or can consider giving Erythromycin 500mg BD 10-14days.
What are the primary sites of infection for Gonorrhoea?
Mucous membranes:
Urethra, endocervix, rectum, pharynx, conjunctiva
Transmission of Gonorrhoea?
Direct from one mucous membrane to another.
unlike chlamydia, quite fragile + so more focused on sexual Hx of last 2 wks
Symptoms of Gonorrhoea?
- Endocervical, asymptomatic in up to 50%.
- ^ or altered vaginal discharge
- PCB/IMB or menorrhagia
- Lower abdo pain (25%)
- Urethral infection may cause dysuria (not frequency)
Signs of Gonorrhoea?
- Mucopurulent endocervical discharge
- Endocervical contact bleeding
Investigations in Gonorrhoea?
- VVS for NAAT
- Gram stained slide for microscopy from infected site
- Bacterial swab for gonorrhoea culture from infected site.
General advice for management of Gonorrhoea?
- Avoid sex for 1/52 until they + their partner have completed treatment.
- ALWAYS culture
- ALWAYS TOC for ALL at 2/52 after therapy
How do you manage uncomplicated anogenital gonorrhoea?
- Ceftriaxone 1g IM stat
- If also have chlamydia: give doxy for 1 week (best practice)
How do you investigate for Gonococcal urethritis in Males?
- Gram stained urethral or rectal smear demonstrating gram -ve intracellular diplococci (‘kissing kidney beans’)
- NAAT from site of infection
- Need for 3 site screening in MSM !!!
What are some complications for Gonococcal urethritis in men?
Epididymo-orchitis
Proctitis
Disseminated gonorrhoea
What does urethral discharge look like in:
a) Gonoccocal urethritis
b) Chlamydia urethritis
a) Yellow discharge
b) Clear/white discharge
What is LGV (lymphogranuloma venereum)
A disease caused by 3 strains of chlamydia trachomatis, + characterised by a small skin lesion followed by regional lymphadenopathy in groin/pelvis.
If acquired by anal sex, may manifest as severe proctitis.
What is the main cause of urogenital infection + lymphogranuloma venereum in men?
Chlamydia urethritis
Prevalence of different organisms in non-specific urethral discharge?
- C. trachomatis (11-50%)
- M. genitalium (6-50%)
- Ureaplasmas (11-26%)
- T. vaginalis
- Adenoviruses
- HSV
How do you manage non-specific urethral discharge?
(gram stained urethral smear, NAAT)
-7/7 doxycycline 100mg PO (as per chlamydia for initial presentation)
What are some STI causes of rectal discharge?
- Chlamydia/ LGV (most common)
- Gonorrhoea
- Herpes
- Sexually transmitted enteric infections
What are anogenital warts caused by?
90% HPV 6 or 11
What is the incubation time of anogenital warts?
Between 3 weeks to 8 months !! (so hard to determine which partner it came from)
Management of anogenital warts: Physical Ablation?
- Cyrotherapy
- Excision
- Electrocautery
Management of anogenital warts: topical applications?
- Podophyllotoxin (CONTRAINDICATED IN PREGNANCY)
- ALDARA- Imiquimod
What are the types of HSV that cause anogenital herpes?
HSV-1 / HSV-2
cant tell clinically- generally HSV1 more common oral, + HSV2 more common genital - but can get oral-genital transfer
What happens to the virus following primary infection?
The virus becomes latent in local sensory ganglia.
Periodically reactivates to cause symptomatic lesions or asymptomatic (but infectious) viral shedding.
What can episodes of Herpes be triggered by?
Mental + physical stress.
Too much sunlight.
Pregnancy.
Symptoms of anogenital herpes?
Local sx: painful ulceration, dysuria, vaginal or urethral discharge.
Systemic: fever + myalgia.
Investigations for anogenital herpes?
Viral PCR
Treatment for anogenital herpes?
- For 1st clinical episode: tx should commence within 5days of start of episode, or while new lesions are forming.
- Aciclovir 400mg 3x day PO for 5-10days
What is syphilis caused by?
Spirochete Treponema Pallidum
What is the highest risk group for syphilis?
White MSM 25-34yrs.
Most of whom are co-infected with HIV.
What are the symptoms + incubation period for primary syphillis?
Incubation: ~21days
Sx: CHANCRE (penile/vulval)- developing from a simple papule. Single lesion, well-defined edge, usually painless + non-purulent.
There may be multiple + develop over 3-8wks.
They will then resolve.
How do you investigate primary syphilis?
Lab diagnosis: PCR, serology, dark ground microscopy (after taking from chancre)
How many primary syphilis pts go on to secondary syphilis?
If primary untreated, 25% will go on to develop secondary.
This occurs 4-10wks after appearance of initial chancre.
Symptoms of secondary syphilis?
- Secondary syphilis rash: condylomata lata (highly infectious, mainly affecting perineum + anus)
- Other Rash: widespread mucocutaneous, can affect pals+soles (any rash here- think syphilis)
- Hepatitis
- Splenomegaly
- Glomerulonephritis
- Neurological complications (acute meningitis, cranial nerve palsies, optic neuropathy).
How may tertiary syphilis present (these are also conditions in their own right)?
- Neurosyphilis: wide-stepping gait, delusions of grandeur, loss of vibration sense.
- CV: dilation of aortic root.
- Gummatous: ulceration of the limbs.
Treatment of Primary/Secondary/Early Latent Syphilis?
Benzathine penicillin 2.4MU IM single dose.
Treatment of late latent/CV/Gummatous Syphilis?
Benzathine penicillin 2.4MU IM for 3 weeks (3 doses)
How can you determine between types of latent syphilis?
- Early latent (<2yrs)
- Late latent (>2yrs)
What about if you are treating someone with syphilis + they have a penicillin allergy?
Doxycycline!
What is Balanitis?
Describes inflammation of glans penis + foreskin.
(mostly not caused by STI (although sometimes Syphilis), because gonorrhoea + chlamydia are the ones that cause the urethritis.
What causes Balanitis?
- Candida (common)
- Anaerobic balanitis (when difficult to retract foreskin)
Symptoms of Balanitis?
Local rash Soreness Itch Odour Inability to retract foreskin -Discharge from the glans/ behind the foreskin
How do you manage Balanitis/ Vulval conditions?
Investigations:
- Swab for candida/bacteria culture
- HSV/syphilis PCR
- STI screen
Management:
Avoid soaps/ irritants
Avoid tight fitting underwear
Pathophysiology of HIV?
- HIV attacks the CD4 T lymphocytes
- Penetrates them, uses its retroviral properties to hijack their processes of transcription/translation- producing more viruses + killing more T lymphocytes.
- HIV has a measurable antigen: p24 !!! (can be detected in blood before the HIV antibody is produced)
HIV life cycle?
- Process of HIV binding + intergrating in human DNA (within CD4 cells)- can take 3-5days after exposure.
- HIV virions budding out destroys the host CD4 cell.
- So as it is replicated, the CD4 count will go down.
Management of HIV in pregnancy to reduce MTCT?
C-section can reduce the risk, + other HIV meds.
- Controlled maternal HIV!
- No breastfeeding (especially if uncontrolled)
What occurs during the Primary HIV Stage? (seroconversion)
- Diagnosis within 6 months
- DDx: Viral illness/ Glandular Fever/ Meningitis/ other STI
- Very HIGH viral load > very infectious!
Common sx of acute HIV infection?
- Fever
- Pharyngitis
- Lymphadenopathy
- Rash
What occurs during the Asymptomatic Stage of HIV? (screening stage)
- After seroconversion stage, illness passes + person remains asymptomatic for 5-10yrs.
- Ongoing viral replication causes immune system damage (chronic inflammatory state)
What are the most common sx of HIV?
- Nonspecific: persistent lymphadenopathy, fever, myalgia, diarrhoea.
- Skin lesions: folliculitis, multi-site HZV, sebarrhoeic dermatitis.
- Oral lesions: candidiasis, oral hairy leukoplakia.
- Recurrent bacterial infections: pneumonia, impetigo.
- Abnormal bloods: lymphopenia, thrombocytopenia.
Features of Advanced HIV?
- Linked to low CD4 count (T lymphocyte)… predisposes pts to opportunistic infections + cancers (B cell lymphoma)
- Diagnoses at late stage: Lower CD4 (<350)= greater damage to immune system + worse prognosis
Investigations/monitoring for HIV?
- Routine: U&E, LFT, FBC, lipid/bone profile, glucose.
- Serology: Hep A, B, C, Syphilis.
- HIV viral load: informs of disease progression rate + monitors treatment response.
- CD4 cell count: main indicator of risk of opportunistic infections (advanced HIV).
Treatment for HIV?
- Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART)
- Usual regime is 3 dif drugs in combo
- Poor compliance= drug resistance + failure.
- Aim of treatment= undetectable viral load.
What are some important drug interactions with HAART?
- Steroids
- Statins
- Anti-anxiety/sedatives
- Anticoags
- Chemo drugs
- Anti-TB
- Recreational drugs
- Antacids
What are the window periods for HIV testing?
- P24 antigen detected 2-4wks after infection (dont test <2wks as may be false -ve)
- HIV antibody 4-8wks
What is the guidance for testing with the 4th generation HIV test?
Tests for antigen + antibody.
Detects majority by 4wks after an exposure.
Consider repeat at 8wks if high risk.
What is the 3rd generation HIV test?
- JUST tests for antibody
- Window period is 12 weeks
What is the Rapid Point of Care test?
- Either 3rd or 4th gen, or combo.
- Bedside test, results infront of pts.
- If test is positive, it is called ‘reactive’ as high rate of flase +ves (so require lab venous sample for confirmation).
What is the Venous Blood Sample test for HIV?
- Accurate, 4th gen test for short window period.
- Results not instant.
- Need to send a confirmatory sample to check sample, but still act on first result!!!
What is PrEP? (pre-exposure prophylactics)
Given to HIV negative people: taken before, during + after sex.
V effective.
Still need for regular testing.
Doesn’t protect against other STIs.
What is PEPSE? (post-exposure prophylactics)
Taken after high risk sex/ exposure.
Within 72hrs of risk, take for 28days.
For MTCT: PEP for baby for 4 weeks after birth.