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Changing sexually transmitted infection screening protocol will result in improved case finding for trichomonas vaginalis among high-risk female populations.
- Source :
-
Sexually transmitted diseases [Sex Transm Dis] 2011 May; Vol. 38 (5), pp. 398-400. - Publication Year :
- 2011
-
Abstract
- Background: Trichomonas vaginalis is a sexually transmitted infection, which is largely underestimated because of ineffective screening protocols and lack of public health attention.<br />Methods: Two studies were conducted to assess the frequency of missed diagnosis of T. vaginalis when using current routine practices for T. vaginalis screening in high-risk female populations. The first study compares the rate of positivity detected using wet preparation microscopy to the number of cases found using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using residual samples from women attending a public health sexually transmitted disease clinic. The second study compares universal to targeted screening of symptomatic women using PCR on vaginal samples from women screened for sexually transmitted disease at a correctional facility.<br />Results: In the first study, a 5-fold increased incidence of T. vaginalis infection was detected when PCR was performed instead of wet mount microscopy in a sample of 222 women screened at a sexually transmitted disease clinic. The second study detected a 5-fold increase in cases among a sample of 471 incarcerated women when universal screening was implemented.<br />Conclusions: Improving detection of T. vaginalis is critical, given that when left untreated, T. vaginalis increases susceptibility to coinfections including human immunodeficiency virus. Changing screening protocols to use improved diagnostic tools and applying universal screening resulted in increased case finding for T. vaginalis among high-risk women. The prevalence of T. vaginalis coupled with its negative impact on health necessitate greater public health attention is needed in order to reduce incidence rates, improve diagnosis, and to better understand this important, yet underestimated, pathogen.
- Subjects :
- Chlamydia Infections diagnosis
Chlamydia Infections epidemiology
Chlamydia Infections prevention & control
Female
Gonorrhea diagnosis
Gonorrhea epidemiology
Gonorrhea prevention & control
HIV Infections epidemiology
HIV Infections prevention & control
Humans
Incidence
Indiana epidemiology
Microscopy methods
Prevalence
Prisoners
Public Health
Risk Factors
Sexually Transmitted Diseases epidemiology
Sexually Transmitted Diseases parasitology
Sexually Transmitted Diseases prevention & control
Trichomonas Vaginitis epidemiology
Trichomonas Vaginitis parasitology
Trichomonas Vaginitis prevention & control
Trichomonas vaginalis genetics
Mass Screening methods
Polymerase Chain Reaction methods
Sexually Transmitted Diseases diagnosis
Trichomonas Vaginitis diagnosis
Trichomonas vaginalis isolation & purification
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1537-4521
- Volume :
- 38
- Issue :
- 5
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Sexually transmitted diseases
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 21217417
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1097/OLQ.0b013e318203e3ce