Vulvovaginitis / Balanitis Flashcards
Symptoms of Trichomonas vaginalis
Asymptomatic in 10 - 50% of F
Vulval itching +/- soreness
PV discharge
offensive discharge - may be frothy / green
Occasional - Dysuria / Abdo discomfort
Clinical signs of of Trichomonas vaginalis
discharge - may be frothy and green / yellow in 10-30%. Strawberry cervix (punctate haemorrhages)
Diagnosis of Trichomonas vaginalis
Microscopy of vaginal discharge
TV NAATs
Treatment of Trichomonas vaginalis
Metronidazole 400mg BD for 5-7 days Or Metronidazole 2 g STAT PO OR PV metronidazole gel (0.75%) OD 5 days OR PV clindamycin cream (2%) OD 7 days Tx both partners
Which STI is a flagellate Protozoan
Trichomonas vaginalis
Non infective causes of abnormal vaginal discharge?
Retained foreign body, Iflammation due to allergy or irritation, Tumours, Atrophic vaginitis, Cervical ectopy, Cervical polyps
Balanitis can be caused by:
Poor hygiene, leading to a build-up of smegma.
Irritation under the foreskin caused by urine / soaps / shower gels / other skin irritants
Thrush
Bacterial infection.
Sexually transmitted infections
Skin conditions - such as eczema / psoriasis / lichen sclerosus
what type of organism is Trichomonas vaginalis
flagellated protozoon
what anatomical structures can Trichomonas vaginalis infect?
In women - vagina, urethra, paraurethral glands
In men - urethra, subpreputial sac
Transmission of Trichomonas vaginalis
almost exclusively through sexual intercourse
Symptoms of Trichomonas vaginalis in women
10–50% asymptomatic. vaginal discharge vulval itching dysuria offensive odour, Occasionally - low abdominal discomfort or vulval ulceration
Symptoms of Trichomonas vaginalis in men
15 - 50% asymptomatic
usually present as sexual partners of infected women. .
urethral discharge dysuria. urethral irritation urinary frequency Rarely - copious purulent urethral discharge
Signs of Trichomonas vaginalis in women
Vaginal discharge – varying in consistency from thin / scanty to profuse and thick
- classical frothy yellow discharge occurs in 10–30%
Vulvitis / vaginitis
strawberry cervix - 2%
5–15% no abnormalities on examination
Signs of Trichomonas vaginalis in men
Urethral discharge (20–60% men)
No signs, even in the presence of symptoms suggesting urethritis:
Rarely balanoposthitis
Complications of Trichomonas vaginalis
associated with preterm delivery and low birth weight
Unclear if causal association
TV at delivery may predispose to maternal postpartum sepsis
epidemiological association between HIV and TV
TV infection may enhance HIV transmission
Who should be tested for trichomonas vaginalis
women complaining of vaginal discharge or vulvitis
Women found to have evidence of vulvitis or vaginitis
Men who are contacts of TV contacts
considered for men with persistent urethritis
Sample sites for diagnosis of Trichomonas vaginalis in women
Swab from the posterior fornix at the time of speculum examination
Alternative option = Self-administered vaginal
What type of test is used to diangose trichomonas vaginalis
NAATS - gold standard
Culture
Microscopy - wet preparation - Detection of motile trichomonads by light- field microscopy
Sample sites for diagnosis of Trichomonas vaginalis in men
Urine NAAT
Urethral culture
culture of first-void urine
What is the timeframe for reading a wet-prep microscopy slide and why
within 10min
trichomonads will quickly loose motility
sensitivity of microscopy to diagnose trichomonas in women with discharge
as low as 45–60% in women
lower in men
What stain can be used to increase the likelihood of detecting trichomonas vaginalis on microscopy
acridine orange
stains dead organisms
can give a higher sensitivity than wet microscopy
not widely used
what is the sensitivity of NAATs testing for trichomonas vaginalis
88%–97%
What is the spontaneous cure rate of Trichomonas vaginalis
20–25%.
Treatment of Trichomonas vaginalis
Metronidazole 2 g PO STAT
OR
Metronidazole 400–500 mg BD 5–7 / 7
Alternative regimen to metronidazole for treatment of Trichomonas vaginalis
Tinidazole 2g PO STAT
similar activity to metronidazole
more expensive
Treatment of Trichomonas vaginalis in pregnancy
Metronidazole - not known if it has any effect on pregnancy outcomes
No evidence of teratogenicity
Can be used in all stages of pregnancy and breast feeding
Avoid high- dose regimen in pregnancy.
Tinidazole - Avoid in pregnancy / breastfeeding - safety not established
Treatment of Trichomonas vaginalis in breastfeeding
Metronidazole
Can be while breast feeding
Metronidazole enters breast milk and may affect its taste
Avoiding high doses if breast feeding
If using a single dose of metronidazole discontinue breast feeding for 12–24h to reduce infant exposure
Treatment of Trichomonas vaginalis in HIV positive patients
Metronidazole 400–500 mg BD 5–7 / 7
A 2-g STAT oral dose may not be as effective among HIV-infected patients
Advice re reactions to treatment with metronidazole
Avoid alcohol for the duration of treatment and 48 h afterwards
possibility of a disulfiram-like reaction
what history should be checked with treatment failure for Trichomonas vaginalis
check:
- Compliance
- exclude vomiting of metronidazole
- Sexual history for possibility of re-infection
- if partner(s) have been treated
Treatment protocol for non-response to standard Trichomonas vaginalis therapy
exclude re-infection and non-adherence
Repeat course 7-day Metronidazole 400–500 mg BD
40% respond to a repeat course
Treatment protocol for non-response to a second course of standard Trichomonas vaginalis therapy
Higher-dose course of Metronidazole 800 mg TDS 7/7
OR
tinidazole 2 g OD for 5–7 days
Treatment protocol for non-response to a second course of standard Trichomonas vaginalis therapy
Higher-dose course of Metronidazole 800 mg TDS 7/7
OR
tinidazole 2 g OD for 5–7 days
Treatment protocol for non-response to a thrid course of Trichomonas vaginalis therapy
Resistance testing - if available OR high-dose tinidazole regimens Tinidazole 1 g BD or TDS, 14 days OR 2 g BD 14 days OR PV tinidazole 500 mg BD 14 days
Treatment options for TV if both high dose metronidazole or tinidazole have failed
Limited evidence
- Paromomycin PV 250mg OD or BD 14 days
- Furazolidone PV 100 mg BD 12–14 days
- Acetarsol pessaries 500 mg ON 14 days
- 6% Nonoxynol–9 pessaries ON 14 days
When is a TOC recommended for TV
only if the patient remains symptomatic following treatment
or if symptoms recur
Contact tracing and treatment for TV
Screen and empirically treat
- Current partners
- Partners within 4 weeks prior to presentation
What is the commonest cause of abnormal discharge in women of reproductive age?
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) Reported prevalence 5 - 50%
What are the dominant bacteria in the healthy vagina?
Lactobacilli
What is the normal PH of a healthy vagina?
pH maintained < 4.5
What is the PH of the vagina with bacterial vaginosis
In BV the pH of vaginal fluid is > 4.5 - up to 6.0
Risk factors for BV
vaginal douching receptive cunnilingus Black race recent change of sexual partner smoking presence of an STI