Sexually Transmitted Infections Flashcards
What are the standard STIs tested for?
Chlamydia
Gonorrhoea
HIV
Syphillis
How do you test for chlamydia and gonorrhoea?
NAAT
Increased sensitivity over culture
Where are NAAT samples taken?
Vulvovaginal swab or endocervical swab
Throat swab
Rectal swab
Urine - first void sample in males
What is a problem with NAAT?
It can detect dead organisms - wait 5 weeks to do cure test
How do you test for HIV/Syphilis?
Blood test
When a patient presents with discharge what tests can be done?
Cervical microscopy (gram stain)
Vaginal microscopy and pH (>4.5 in pathology)
Urethral microscopy (gram stain)
Amies swab
When should a amies swab be done?
High vaginal swab in HSV, unknown cause of discharge, pregnant, postpartum, post gynae, PID
What is the commonest STI in the UK?
Chlamydia
Where does chlamydia infect?
Columnar epithelium at mucosal site - urethra, rectum, throat, eyes, endocervix
How is chlamydia transmitted?
Vaginal, oral or anal sex
What percentage of patients with chlamydia are asymptomatic?
70-80% of women
50% of men
What are the symptoms of chlamydia?
Milky Discharge (men) Irregular bleeding (women) Abdominal pain (both) Dysuria (men)
What are the signs of chlamydia?
Urethritis
Cervicitis
Epididymo-orchitis
Proctitis (LGV)
Name the three serological groups of chlamydia
Serovars A-C - trachoma
Serovars D-K - genital infection
Servers L1-L3 - lymphogranuloma venereum
Describe lymphogranuloma venereum
Mainly in MSM, rectal pain, discharge and bleeding
67% also have HIV
Describe the bacteria chlamydia trachomatis
Obligate intracellular bacteria with biphasic life cycle, does not stain with gram stain - no peptidoglycan in cell wall. Cannot reproduce outside of host.
What is the treatment of chlamydia?
1st - doxycycline 100mg BD 7 days
2nd - azithromycin 1g stat followed by 500mg daily for 2 days
What is the treatment in PID?
Inpatient - ceftrixone, metronidazole, doxycycline
Outpatient - ofloxacin & metronidazole
State the complications of chlamydia
PID, tubal damage, conjunctivitis, pneumonia, reactive arthritis (righters), Fitz Huge Curtis
Describe Fitz Huge Curtis
Perihepatitis - piano string adhesions from liver
What is the testing advice for chlamydia?
14 days following exposure, >25 years old with discharge rarely chlamydia - high re-infection rate
Describe the action of bacteria neisseria gonorrhoea
Gram negative intracellular diplococcus - attaches to host epithelial cells and endocytose into the cell to replicate
Why does GC appear intracellularly on gram film?
Easily phagocytose by polymorphs
How does gonorrhoea present?
Mucopurulent urethral discharge, dysuria, endocervical - discharge, irregular bleeding, external dysuria, pharyngeal/rectal is usually asymptomatic
How is gonorrhoea investigated?
NAATs - urethral/endocervical swab
Microscopy if symptomatic
Culture is positive microscopy or GC contact - endocervical, rectal, throat swab
Why are cultures only done in the clinic?
GP were false negatives as the organism would die on the way to lab
How is gonorrhoea treated?
1st Ceftriaxone 1g IM
2nd Cefixime 400mg + azithromycin 2g
What is the incubation period for gonorrhoea?
2-5 days
What are the lower genital tract complications of gonorrhoea?
Bartholinitis Tysonitis Periurethral abscess Rectal abscess Epidiymitis Urethral stricture
What are the upper genital tract complications of gonorrhoea?
Endometritis PID Hydrosalpinx Infertility Ectopic pregnancy Prostatis
What is the new emerging STI?
Mycoplasma genitalium
How is mycoplasma genitalium managed?
NAAT test - high levels of macrolide resistance
What bacteria causes syphilis?
Treponema Pallidum Palldium subtype
How is syphilis transmitted?
Sex
During birth
Trans-placental