Low Prevalence of Common Sexually Transmitted Infections Contrasting with High Prevalence of Mycoplasma Asymptomatic Genital Carriage: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Survey in Adult Women Living in N’Djamena, Chad

Background: We herein report a cross-sectional study which consecutively enrolled adult women from the community living in N'Djamena, Chad. The aim of the study was to estimate the burden of asymptomatic genital carriage of common curable sexually transmitted infections (STIs) (including Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Mycoplasma genitalium and Trichomonas vaginalis) and genital Mycoplasma spp., as well as to assess their possible associated risk factors. Methods: A total of 251 women were consecutively included and screened for common curable STIs as well as for genital mycoplasma carriage by multiplex real-time PCR. Results: Only seven (2.8%) women were found to be infected with at least one common STI by multiplex real-time PCR: C. trachomatis, N. gonorrhoeae, M. genitalium and T. vaginalis were recovered from 3 (1.2%), 1 (0.4%), 4 (1.6%) and 1 (0.4%) women, respectively. No sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics could be associated in multivariate analysis with the genital carriage of the four detected common curable STIs. In contrast, the prevalence of genital mycoplasmas was much higher (54.2%) with a predominance of Ureaplasma parvum (42.6% of the total population). Conclusion: Our study shows a low prevalence of common STIs in contrast with a high prevalence of mycoplasmas among asymptomatic adult women recruited on a community basis in Chad. These observations highlight the need for etiologic management of STIs relying on PCR-based techniques rather than a syndromic approach in resource-limited countries.

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Prevalence of and risk factors for curable sexually transmitted infections on Bubaque Island, Guinea Bissau

Sexually Transmitted Infections ◽

10.1136/sextrans-2019-054351 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. sextrans-2019-054351

Author(s):

Giovanna Cowley ◽

Gregory Milne ◽

Eunice Teixeira da Silva ◽

Jose Nakutum ◽

Amabelia Rodrigues ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Sexually Transmitted Infections ◽

Trichomonas Vaginalis ◽

Protective Factor ◽

Diagnostic Testing ◽

Significant Risk ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Sexually Transmitted ◽

Guinea Bissau

ObjectivesComplications from sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can result in severe morbidity and mortality. To date, no STI population studies have been conducted on the Bijagos Islands, Guinea Bissau. Our objective was to estimate the prevalence of and identify risk factors for Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct), Neisseria gonorrhoea (Ng), Mycoplasma genitalium (Mg), Trichomonas vaginalis (Tv) and Treponema pallidum (Tp) on Bubaque, the most populated island.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted on the island of Bubaque among people aged 16–49 years. Participants were asked to answer a questionnaire on STI risk factors, to provide urine samples (men and women) and vaginal swabs (women) for PCR testing for Ct, Ng, Mg and Tv, and to provide dry blood spots for Tp particle agglutination assays. Data were analysed to estimate the prevalence of STIs and logistic regression was used to identify risk factors.ResultsIn total, 14.9% of participants were found to have a curable STI, with the highest prevalence being observed for Tv (5.9%) followed by Ct (3.8%), Ng (3.8%), Mg (1.9%) and Tp (0.8%). Significant risk factors for having any STI included being female, younger age and concurrent partnership. Having had a previous STI that was optimally treated was a protective factor.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates that there is a considerable burden of STI on the Bijagos Islands, stressing the need for diagnostic testing to facilitate early detection and treatment of these pathogens to stop ongoing transmission. Moreover, these results indicate the need to conduct further research into the STI burden on the Bijagos Islands to help inform and develop a national STI control strategy.

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Accuracy of Curable Sexually Transmitted Infections and Genital Mycoplasmas Screening by Multiplex Real-Time PCR Using a Self-Collected Veil among Adult Women in Sub-Saharan Africa

Infectious Diseases in Obstetrics and Gynecology ◽

10.1155/2019/8639510 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2019 ◽

pp. 1-15

Author(s):

Zita Aleyo Nodjikouambaye ◽

Fabrice Compain ◽

Damtheou Sadjoli ◽

Ralph-Sydney Mboumba Bouassa ◽

Hélène Péré ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sexually Transmitted Infections ◽

Real Time ◽

Real Time Pcr ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Molecular Testing ◽

Adult Women ◽

Sampling Device ◽

Sexually Transmitted ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Genital Mycoplasmas

Background. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are highly prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa. Genital self-sampling may facilitate the screening of STIs in hard-to-reach remote populations far from large health care centers and may increase screening rates. The cross-sectional GYNAUTO-STI study was carried out to assess the performance of a novel genital veil (V-Veil-Up Gyn Collection Device, V-Veil-Up Pharma, Ltd., Nicosia, Cyprus) as a genital self-sampling device to collect genital secretions to diagnose STIs by molecular biology as compared to reference clinician-collected genital specimens, in adult African women. Methods. Adult women living in N’Djamena, the capital city of Chad, were recruited from the community and referred to the clinic for women’s sexual health “La Renaissance Plus”. A clinician obtained an endocervical specimen using flocked swab. Genital secretions were also obtained by self-collection using veil. Both clinician- and self-collected specimens were tested for common curable STIs (including Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Mycoplasma genitalium, and Trichomonas vaginalis) and genital Mycoplasma spp. by multiplex real-time PCR (Allplex™ STI Essential Assay, Seegene, Seoul, South Korea). Test positivities for both collection methods were compared by assessing methods agreement, sensitivity, and specificity. Results. A total of 251 women (mean age, 35.1 years) were prospectively enrolled. Only seven (2.8%) women were found to be infected with at least one common STIs [C. trachomatis: 3 (1.2%), N. gonorrhoeae: 1 (0.4%), M. genitalium: 4 (1.6%) and T. vaginalis: 1 (0.4%)], while the prevalence of genital mycoplasmas was much higher (54.2%) with a predominance of Ureaplasma parvum (42.6%). Self-collection by veil was non-inferior to clinician-based collection for genital microorganisms DNA molecular testing, with “almost perfect” agreement between both methods, high sensitivity (97.0%; 95%CI: 92.5-99.2%), and specificity (88.0%; 95%CI: 80.7-93.3%). Remarkably, the mean total number of genital microorganisms detected per woman was 1.14-fold higher in self-collected specimens compared to that in clinician-collected specimens. Conclusions. Veil-based self-collection of female genital secretions constitutes a convenient tool to collect in gentle way cervicovaginal secretions for accurate molecular detection of genital bacteria. Such sampling procedure could be easily implemented in STIs clinics in sub-Saharan Africa.

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Sexually transmitted infections among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in Mongolia: potential impact on the Mongolian HIV epidemic

International Journal of STD & AIDS ◽

10.1258/0956462053057693 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 16 (2) ◽

pp. 153-157 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Oyunbileg Amindavaa ◽

Sibylle Kristensen ◽

Chin Y Pak ◽

Davaajav Khalzan ◽

Byambaa Chultemsuren ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pregnant Women ◽

Sexually Transmitted Infections ◽

Trichomonas Vaginalis ◽

Hiv Transmission ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Sexually Transmitted ◽

Treatment And Prevention ◽

Hiv Epidemic ◽

Triple Infection

We conducted Mongolia's first nation-wide cross-sectional survey of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among pregnant women attending prenatal care. Among our 2000 participants, 386 (19.3%) were infected with Chlamydia trachomatis, 133 (6.7%) with Trichomonas vaginalis, 121 (6.1%) with Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and 128 (6.4%) were seropositive for Treponemal antibodies. None of our participants were seropositive for HIV infection. Additionally, 605 (30.3%) of the women had at least one STI, 133 (6.7%) had a double infection, and 15 (0.8%) had a triple infection. Our results suggest that STIs are a serious problem in Mongolia. Pregnant women represent a lower-risk general population; these high STI rates suggest that at this nascent stage, the identification, treatment, and prevention of STIs as risk factors for HIV transmission are crucial in the prevention of the emerging Mongolian HIV epidemic.

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Faculty Opinions recommendation of Usefulness of a novel multiplex real-time PCR assay for the diagnosis of sexually-transmitted infections.

Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature ◽

10.3410/f.726041737.793554298 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Seung-Ju Lee

Keyword(s):

Sexually Transmitted Infections ◽

Real Time ◽

Real Time Pcr ◽

Pcr Assay ◽

Sexually Transmitted

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High Prevalence of Sexually Transmitted Infections and Risk Factors Among HIV-Positive Individuals in Yunnan, China

10.21203/rs.3.rs-936581/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Wei Tu ◽

Yu-Ye Li ◽

Yi-Qun Kuang ◽

Rong-Hui Xie ◽

Xing-Qi Dong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Sexually Transmitted Infections ◽

Genital Tract ◽

Mycoplasma Genitalium ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Multiple Infections ◽

Hiv Positive ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Sexually Transmitted ◽

High Prevalence

Abstract Background Yunnan has the highest rates of HIV in the country. Other treatable sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are associated with accelerated HIV transmission and poor ART outcomes, but are only diagnosed by syndromic algorithms. Methods We recruited 406 HIV-positive participants for a cross-sectional study (204 ART-naive and 202 ART). Blood samples and first-voided urine samples were collected. Real-time polymerase chain reaction methods were used for Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) and Mycoplasma genitalium (MG). Syphilis and HSV-2 tests were also performed. Results Among 406 participants, the overall prevalence of STI was 47.0% and 45.1% in ART-naive individuals and 49.0% in ART individuals, respectively. Testing frequency was 11.6% (11.8% vs 11.4%), 33.2% (29.4% vs 37.1%), 3.2% (3.4% vs 3.0%), 2.0% (3.4% vs 0.5%) and 4.7% (6.4% vs 3.0%) for active syphilis, HSV-2, chlamydia, gonorrhoeae and genitalium. Percentage of multiple infections in both groups was 10.8% (22/204) in ART-naive participants and 9.9% (20/202) in ART participants. Females, age between 18 to 35 years, ever injected drugs, homosexual or bisexual, HIV/HBV coinfection, and not receiving ART were identified as risk factors. Self-reported asymptom was not eliminating of having a laboratory-diagnosed STI. Conclusions STI prevalence was 47.0% (45.1% vs 49.0%), HSV-2, syphilis and MG were the most common STIs in HIV-infected individuals. We found high prevalence (6.4%) of Mycoplasma genitalium in ART-naive individuals. ART can reduce the diversity of STI-HIV coinfection but not the prevalence. HIV-positive individuals tend to neglect or maybe hide their genital tract discomfort, thus we suggest strengthening STI joint screening and treatment services among HIV-infected individuals whether they describe genital tract discomfort or not.

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Primary prevention of sexually transmitted infections in Switzerland: practices of family physicians and their determinants—a national cross-sectional survey

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2019-032950 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (9) ◽

pp. e032950

Author(s):

Hanna Vautrin ◽

Nicolas Senn ◽

Christine Cohidon

Keyword(s):

Primary Prevention ◽

Hepatitis B ◽

Sexually Transmitted Infections ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Sexual Life ◽

Secondary Outcome ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Active Monitoring ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Sexually Transmitted

ObjectivesTo describe the activities of general practitioners (GPs) pertaining to primary prevention in the field of affective and sexual life, studying the advice they provide as well as their vaccination practices.DesignCross-sectional national survey.Setting/participantsThe study was carried out using the Swiss Primary Care Active Monitoring GPs’ network, a national GP network created in 2012. One hundred and seventy Swiss GPs, from a random sample from professional lists stratified by canton, participated in the present study.Primary and secondary outcome measuresPrevention practices against sexually transmitted infections (STIs) performed by GPs through advice provided as well as their vaccination practices. Predictive factor of these practices through their links with the doctors’ relevant characteristics and their opinions about STI prevention.ResultsApproximately 80% consider prevention in the area of affective and sexual life to be part of their duty and discuss it easily with patients. Most of them spontaneously give advice regarding STIs during a routine consultation. Regarding human papillomavirus (HPV) immunisation in adults, almost half of GPs report never doing it, while almost 75% often or always immunise their adult patients against hepatitis B. Higher numbers of consultations per day are associated with vaccinating more adults against HPV (OR 1.13 (1.05 to 1.23)) and against hepatitis A (OR 1.17 (1.05 to 1.31)). Vaccinating children against hepatitis B is associated with practising in rural areas (OR 4.64 (1.20 to 17.98)). GPs practising in the French-speaking region of Switzerland immunise children less against HPV (OR 0.40 (0.20 to 0.80)). Longer consultations are associated with providing advice on affective and sexual life during a first consultation (OR 1.08 (1.01 to 1.14)).ConclusionSwiss GPs are involved in primary prevention against STIs and consider it as their responsibility. Prevention practices are associated with GPs’ favourable opinions on prevention.

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