STI and BBV Passmed Flashcards
Gonorrhoea is caused by the Gram-negative diplococcus Neisseria gonorrhoae.
How does it present differently in men and women?
What local complications can arise?
males: urethral discharge, dysuria
females: cervicitis e.g. leading to vaginal discharge
Local complications that may develop include urethral strictures, epididymitis and salpingitis
What is the major systemic complication of gonorrhea? How does it present?
Disseminated gonococcal infection (DGI)
Initially there may be a classic triad of symptoms: tenosynovitis, migratory polyarthritis and dermatitis.
Later complications include septic arthritis, endocarditis and perihepatitis (Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome)
It is the most common cause of septic arthritis in young adults
How is gonorrhea treated?
The first-line treatment is a single dose of IM ceftriaxone 1g
(But if the organism is sensitive to ciprofloxacin then oral ciprofloxacin 500mg should be given)
if ceftriaxone is refused (e.g. needle-phobic) then oral cefixime 400mg + oral azithromycin 2g should be used
All patients with gonorrhoea should have ‘test of cure’ due to high abx resistance. What is used for this?
with NAAT if asymptomatic or cultures if symptomatic
How can genital herpes be diagnosed?
clinical diagnosis or viral PCR swab from lesion
How should genital herpes in pregnancy be managed?
Elective C-section at term is advised if a primary attack of herpes occurs at greater than 28 weeks gestation (3rd trimester)
Oral aciclovir 400 mg TDS (three times daily) should be taken until delivery
Women with recurrent herpes who are pregnant should be treated with suppressive therapy and be advised that the risk of transmission to their baby is low
How is asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnancy managed?
Immediate tx with abx
HIV seroconversion occurs about 3-12 weeks after initial infection. How does it present if symptomatic?
Like glandular fever
sore throat
lymphadenopathy
malaise, myalgia, arthralgia
diarrhoea
maculopapular rash and mouth ulcers
rarely meningoencephalitis
antibodies to HIV may not be present
HIV PCR and p24 antigen tests can confirm diagnosis
When should asymptomatic patients be screened for HIV?
4 weeks following potential exposure
What is the first line for HIV testing?
combination tests (HIV p24 antigen and HIV antibody) are now standard for the diagnosis and screening of HIV
- if the combined test is positive it should be repeated to confirm the diagnosis
Name some key AIDS defining illnesses
Kaposi’s sarcoma (caused by human herpes virus 8)
PCP
CMV
Candidiasis (oesophageal or bronchial)
Lymphoma
TB
How can HIV be monitored?
CD4 count ( 500-1200 is normal, under 200 is end stage /AIDS)
Viral Load
How should HIV be managed?
Antiretroviral therapy (ART) involves a combination of at least 3 drugs, typically 2 nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTI) and either a protease inhibitor (PI) or a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI).
This combination both decreases viral replication but also reduces the risk of viral resistance emerging
patients should start ART as soon as they have been diagnosed, rather than waiting until a particular CD4 count
NRTI: zidovudine (AZT), abacavir, emtricitabine, didanosine, lamivudine, stavudine, zalcitabine, tenofovir
PI: indinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir
NNRTI: nevirapine, efavirenz
What is a chancre?
Painless indurated lesion characteristic of the primary stage of syphilis
Most common complication of gonorrhoea?
Infertility secondary to PID
Most common cause of PID?
Chlamydia
(gonorrhoea second)
Common causes of genital ulcers?
painful: herpes much more common than chancroid
painless: syphilis more common than lymphogranuloma venereum
Most common cause of genital warts (90%)?
HPV 6 & 11
What is BV?
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is an overgrowth of predominately anaerobic organisms e.g. Gardnerella vaginalis which = a fall in aerobic lactobacilli that produce lactic acid→ raised vaginal pH
Fishy/offensive discharge or can be asymptomatic
Risk factors for BV?
multiple sexual partners
excessive vaginal cleaning
recent abx
smoking
copper coil