STIs

Question 1

Define a sexually transmitted MIcro-organism?

Answer 1

Any transmitted by sexual contact including commensals and pathogens

Question 2

What makes a sexually transmitted infection and disease?

Answer 2

STI is a pathogen that invades and multiples on the body and is transmissable by sexual contact. While also unlikely to be transmitted otherwise. e.g. Type 6 HPV

STD is the disease caused by said STI, e.g Genital Warts

Question 3

Why are STIs so important?

Answer 3

They are unpleasant and can lead to death
A huge drain on resources
A massive psychosocial impact

And they are very common

Question 4

The number of STI diagnoses has increased over time, why do you think this is?

Answer 4

May be more cases, due to increasde number of parteners, anal sex and MSM

May be more diagnoses but not more cases as public and medical awareness increases as well as better tests

Question 5

What models do we use to map spread of STIs?

Answer 5

Cores & Assortative mixing
Chains and random mixing

Question 6

How does assortative mixing work?

Answer 6

A subpopulation (“Core”) have sex with eachother but not hte wider community
E.g. a minority ethnicity
Therefore you see a high prevalence amongst the core but without spreading to the wider community

E.g. HEP C infections amongst Hiv +VE MSM

Question 7

How does random mixing work?

Answer 7

A very big population e.g. hetero men&women

Chains of sexual partners form rather than a tangled core and you get a disease of low prevalalence but a very wide dissemination

Question 8

What questions are important when investigating a possible STI?

Answer 8

• Last Sexual Contact?
• Casual or regular partner?
• Nationality & gender of partner?
• Nature of sexual contact?
• Condom?
• Contraception?
• MSM?
• Injected drugs or had sex with someone who has?
• Medical treatment outside Uk?
• Involvement in sex industry?

Question 9

How do we go about notifying patients partner’s of their possible STI?

Answer 9

Client referral (patient does the telling)
Provider notification (NHS tells the contacts)

Question 10

What further testing should be offered if an STI diagnosis is reached?

Answer 10

Other STI & HIV testing should be done as an STI is a risk factor for other STIs an HIV

Question 11

What areas of health promotion should we educate STI patients on?

Answer 11

Condoms and what they do/dont prevent
Oral sex carries risks too
Alcohol and drug abuse