Genital Tract Infections

Question 1

What spirochete bacterium causes syphillis?

Answer 1

Treponema pallidum

Question 2

What bacterium causes bacterial vaginosis?

Answer 2

Gardnerella vaginalis.

Question 3

What bacteria causes chlamydia

Answer 3

Chlamydia trachomatis

Question 4

What bacteria causes gonorrhoea?

Answer 4

Neisseria gonorrhoea

Question 5

What organism causes vulvovaginal candidiasis?

Answer 5

Candida albicans

Question 6

What organism causes anogenital warts?

Answer 6

Human papilloma virus strains 6 and 11.

Question 7

Of the herpes viruses, which causes genital herpes and which causes oral herpes?

Answer 7

HSV-1 -> oral and genital herpes

HSV-2 -> genital herpes

Question 8

Treatment for herpes?

Answer 8

Acyclovir

Question 9

What bacteria causes trichomonias?

Answer 9

Trichomonas vaginalis.

Question 10

Name some symptoms of chlamydia?

Answer 10

• mild urethritis
• dysuria
• epididymitis/prostatitis
• mostly asymptomatic in females, but can have vaginal discharge, dyspareunia or post-coital bleeding

Question 11

Is chlamydia gram positive or gram negative?

Answer 11

Gram negative - but is difficult to stain.

Question 12

Chlamydia is an obligate intracellular bacterium, what does this mean?

Answer 12

It can only replicate inside other cells.

Question 13

Which genital tract infection can be spread to a newborn when giving birth and cause conjunctivitis?

Answer 13

Chlamydia trachomatis.

Question 14

What is the treatment for chlamydia?

Answer 14

Doxycycline

Question 15

Name some symptoms of gonorrhoea?

Answer 15

• discharge
• dysuria
• more commonly asymptomatic in women

Question 16

How is gonorrhoea treated?

Answer 16

Combined ceftriaxone and azithromycin

Question 17

Which STI is commonly a co-infection with HIV?

Answer 17

Syphillis - treponema pallidum.

Question 18

What is the difference between primary, secondary and tertiary syphillis?

Answer 18

Primary - painless ulcer on genitals, very infectious, ulcer usually disappears.
Secondary - an associated rash weeks later
Tertiary - infection remains latent and becomes reactivated later in life, if this occurs during pregnancy, can lead to congenital syphillis.

Question 19

Which strains of HPV can cause cervical cancer and which can cause anogenital warts.

Answer 19

HPV 16+18 - cervical, vaginal + vulval cancer.

HPV 6 + 11 - anogenital warts.

Question 20

Name some symptoms of herpes.

Answer 20

• painful ulcers
• dysuria
• discharge
• systemic: fever, myalgia

Question 21

What is trichomonas vaginalis treated with?

Answer 21

Metronidazole

Question 22

What type of organism is trichomonas vaginalis?

Answer 22

Protozoa

Question 23

Name some symptoms of trichomonias.

Answer 23

• discharge

- dysuria

Question 24

Name investigations used to test for STIs in males.

Answer 24

• urinalysis
• bloods
• for gay and bisexual men, also do rectal, pharyngeal and urethral sampling
• for herpes, swab base of ulcer

Question 25

Name investigations used to test for STIs in women.

Answer 25

- vulvovaginal swab or endocervical swab - gonorrhoea and chlamydia - high vaginal swab - trichomonias, bacterial vaginosis and candida

Question 26

What causes bacterial vaginosis?

Answer 26

An imbalance of the pH of the vagina, allowing gardnerella vaginalis bacteria to grow. Often caused by excess douching.

Question 27

Name some symptoms of bacterial vaginosis.

Answer 27

- fishy smelling discharge | - painless

Question 28

Name some symptoms of vulvovaginal candidiasis.

Answer 28

- white discharge - pain - dyspareunia

Question 29

What is pelvic inflammatory disease?

Answer 29

The result of ascending infection from the endocervix, leading to endometriosis, salpingitis, oophritis etc. It is often asymptomatic.

Question 30

What is sexually acquired reactive arthritis?

Answer 30

Arthritis triggered by an STI.

Question 31

What is Reiter's Syndrome?

Answer 31

Commonly triggered by an STI, most commonly chlamydia, it is a triad of conjunctivitis, reactive arthritis and urethritis.

Question 32

Which organisms can cause PID?

Answer 32

Chlamydia, gonorrhoea or bacterial vaginosis.

Question 33

Name some symptoms of PID.

Answer 33

- fever - lower abdominal pain - abnormal vaginal discharge or bleeding - can be asymptomatic

Question 34

If left untreated, what can PID lead to?

Answer 34

- infertility - fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome - reiter syndrome

Question 35

What is Fitz-Hugh-Curtis Syndrome?

Answer 35

Caused by chlamydial PID - RUQ pain and peri-hepatitis (liver hepatitis caused by PID).

Question 36

State some risk factors for PID.

Answer 36

- lack of condom use - multiple sexual partners - younger age at first intercourse - IUD (acts as a place for infection) - lower socio-economic class