Sexually Transmitted Infections - Introduction Flashcards

1
Q

What is a commensal organism?

A

Commensal microorganism = microorganism that derives food or other benefits from another organism without hurting or helping it

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2
Q

What is a pathogen?

A

Pathogen = a microorganism that can cause disease

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3
Q

What is an infection?

A

Infection = invasion of all of part of the body by a microorganism, can be: no symptoms (sub-clinical) or symptoms (clinical)

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4
Q

What is a sexually transmissible organism?

A

Sexually transmissible organism = virus, bacteria, protozoan, insect or arthropod which can be spread by sexual contact

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5
Q

What is a sexually transmitted infection (STI)?

A

Sexually transmitted infection (STI) = infection by a pathogen which is sexually transmissible and which is unlikely to be transmitted by non-sexual means

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6
Q

What is a sexually transmitted disease (STD)?

A

Sexually transmitted disease (STD) = a disorder of structure or function caused by a sexually transmitted pathogen

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7
Q

What are examples of sexually transmitted organisms?

A
  • Bacteria
    • Chlamydia trachomatis
    • Klebsiella granulomatis (genital ulcers)
    • Mycoplasma genitalium
    • Traponema pallidum (syphilis)
    • Neisseria gonorhoeae (gonorrhoea)
    • Haemophilus ducreyi (chancroid)
  • Viruses
    • HSV
    • HIV
    • HPV
    • Molluscum contagiosum virus
  • Parasites
    • Pthirus pubis
    • Sarcoptes scabei
    • Trichomonas vaginalis
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8
Q

What organism causes syphilis?

A
  • Traponema pallidum (syphilis)
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9
Q

What organism causes gonorrhoea?

A
  • Neisseria gonorhoeae (gonorrhoea)
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10
Q

What organism causes chancroid?

A
  • Haemophilus ducreyi (chancroid)
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11
Q

What organism causes chlamydia?

A
  • Chlamydia trachomatis
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12
Q

What are some characteristics, and corresponding implications of STIs?

A
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13
Q

What are different types of sexual contact from at most risk of catching an infection to least?

A
  • Group sex
  • Anal sex
  • Vaginal sex
  • Oral sex
    • Cunnilingus, fellatio
  • Touching someone else’s genitals with your genitals
  • Mutual masturbation
  • “Pants on” cuddling
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14
Q

What are some unpleasant symptoms STIs may cause?

A
  • Unpleasant symptoms – grouped into syndromes
    • Ulceration
    • Lumps
    • Genital discharge
    • Non-genital discharge
    • Rashes
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15
Q

What are some systemic symptoms STIs may cause?

A
  • Fever
  • Rash
  • Lymphadenopathy
  • Malaise
  • Arthralgia and arthritis
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16
Q

What are some possible late complications of STIs?

A
  • Infertility – such as from chlamydia
  • Cancer – cervical cancer from HPC
  • Adverse pregnancy outcomes – from syphilis
17
Q

What is the reproductive number of an infectious disease?

What is it proportionate too?

A

Average number of infections produced

18
Q

For the reproductive number, what does it mean if R>1 and R<1?

A

R>1 means epidemic is sustained

R<1 means epidemic is reducing

19
Q

Why can prevalence of STIs be higher in certain groups?

A

Prevalence can be higher in certain groups due to people of that group usually having sex with each other, example is gay men:

  • Cores and assertive mixing
    • Some people have sex with people like them, leading to high prevalence within a subpopulation (core) but limited spread through the wider community

These people however can spread it to other groups, such as a gay man occasionally having sex with a woman:

  • Chains and random mixing
    • Random mixing leads to lower prevalence but wider dissemination along ‘chains’
20
Q

Describe a typical consultation with someone with symptoms suggestive of an STI?

A
  • History
    • Sexual history as well as standard
  • Partner notification
    • 2 ways of doing this - patient tells contacts (client referral), NHS tells contact (provider referral)
  • Further testing
  • Health promotion