Common Sexually Transmitted
Diseases (STDs) and
HIV-Infected Women
October 2007
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This slide set was developed by members of the Cervical
Cancer Screening Subgroup of the AETC Women's Health
and Wellness Workgroup:
Laura Armas, MD; Texas/Oklahoma AETC
Kathy Hendricks, RN, MSN; François-Xavier Bagnoud Center
Supriya Modey, MBBS, MPH; AETC National Resource Center
Andrea Norberg, MS, RN; AETC National Resource Center
Peter Oates, RN, MSN, ACRN, NP-C; François-Xavier Bagnoud Center
Jamie Steiger, MPH; AETC National Resource Center
Other subgroup members and contributors include:
Abigail Davis, MS, ANP, WHNP; Mountain Plains AETC
Lori DeLorenzo, MSN, RN; Organizational Ideas
Rebecca Fry, MSN, APN; François-Xavier Bagnoud Center
Pamela Rothpletz-Puglia, EdD, RD; François-Xavier Bagnoud Center
Jacki Witt, JD, MSN, WHNP; Clinical Training Center for Family Planning
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Learning Objectives
1.Identify the five most common STDs affecting
HIV-infected women
2.Discuss clinical presentations associated with
the five common STDs
3.Recall methods for diagnosing the five common
STDs
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Common STDs in HIV-Infected Women
1.Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV)
2.Syphilis
3.Chlamydia
4.Gonorrhea
5.Trichomoniasis
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Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV)
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HSV: Clinical Presentation
Primary Infection
Prodrome phase:
Tingling/itching of skin
Appearance of painful
vesicles in clusters on an
erythematous base
Vesicles ulcerate then crust
over and heal within 7-14
days
Viral shedding continues for
up to 2-3 weeks
Recurrent Disease
After primary infection,
virus migrates to sacral
ganglion and lies
dormant
Reactivation occurs
due to various triggers
Reoccurrence is usually
milder and shorter in
duration
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Herpes Simplex in Women with AIDS
Credit: Jean R. Anderson, MD
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HSV: Treatment Considerations
Antivirals
Lesions may be bathed in mild soap and water
Sitz baths may provide some relief
Sex partners may benefit from evaluation and
counseling
Transmission is possible when lesions not present
due to viral shedding
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Syphilis
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Syphilis: Clinical Presentation
Primary / Infectious / Early Syphilis Stage:
Primary Phase
Primary chancre
Begins as papule and erodes into painless ulcer with
a hard edge and clean base
Usually in the genital area
Appears 9-90 days after exposure
Can be solitary or multiple (eg. kissing lesions)
Heals with scarring in 3-6 weeks and 75% of patients
show no further symptoms
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Primary Chancre
Primary
Chancre
Credit: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
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Syphilis: Clinical Presentation (continued)
Primary / Infectious / Early Syphilis Stage:
Secondary Phase
Occurs 6 weeks – 6 months after chancre
Lasts several weeks
Accompanied with fever, malaise, generalized
lymphadenopathy, and patchy alopecia
Maculo-papular rash usually on palms and soles
Condyloma lata on perianal or vulval areas
Possible mild hepatosplenomegaly
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Syphilitic Rash
Credit: Dr. Gavin Hart and CDC
Credit: Connie Celum and Walter Stamn
and Seattle STD/HIV Prevention Training Center
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Condyloma lata
Credit: CDC
Condyloma
lata
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Syphilis: Clinical Presentation (continued)
Secondary / Latent Stage:
Positive serology
Rapid Plasma Reagin (RPR)
Venereal Disease Research Lab (VDRL)
Patients are asymptomatic and not infectious
after first year, but may relapse
One-third will convert to sero-negative status
One-third will stay sero-positive but asymptomatic
One-third will develop tertiary syphilis
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Syphilis: Diagnosis
Requires demonstration of:
Organisms on microscopy using dark field
Positive serology on blood or cerebrospinal
fluid (CSF)
Non-Specific Treponemal Tests:
1. Venereal Disease Research Laboratory
(VDRL)
2. Rapid Plasma Reagin (RPR)
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Syphilis: Diagnosis (continued)
Positive serology on blood or CSF
Specific Treponemal Test:
1. Fluorescent Treponemal Antibody Absorption
(FTA-ABS)
2. Microhemagglutination-Treponema pallidum (MHA-TP)
Organism may not be cultured but diagnosis cannot
be determined by clinical findings only
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Syphilis: Treatment Considerations
Primary/ secondary/ latent stage: Benzathine
penicillin
Neurosyphilis: Penicillin G
Ask about penicillin allergy before treatment
Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction may occur
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Chlamydia
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Chlamydia: Clinical Presentation
Mucopurulent cervicitis/vaginal discharge
Dysuria
Lower abdominal pain
Urethritis, salpingitis, and proctitis
Post coital bleeding – friable cervix
Key Considerations:
50% of females are asymptomatic
Sterile pyuria with urinary tract symptoms should
trigger you to think chlamydia
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Cervicitis
Credit: University of Washington and
Seattle STD/HIV Prevention Training Center
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Chlamydia: Diagnosis
Chlamydia culture
New tests include:
Direct immunofluorescence assays (DFA)
Enzyme immunoassay (EIA)
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Chlamydia: Treatment Considerations
Antibiotics
Azithromycin
Evaluate and treat sexual partners
Avoid sex for seven days after completion of
treatment
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Gonorrhea
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N. gonorrhoeae-gram negative
diplococci
Diplococci
Credit: Negusse Ocbamichael and Seattle STD/HIV Prevention Training Center
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Gonorrhea: Treatment Considerations
Intramuscular Ceftriaxone
For pregnant women only:
Ceftriaxone single dose but substitute Quinolones
with Erythromycin
Do not treat with Quinolones or Tetracyclines
Evaluate and treat all sexual partners
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Strawberry Cervix
Credit: Claire E. Stevens and Seattle STD/HIV Prevention Training Center
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Flagellated, motile trichomonads on wet mount
Vaginal pH > 4.5
Diagnosis confirmed by microscopy
Other FDA approved tests:
OSOM Trichomonas Rapid Test
Affirm VP III
Trichomoniasis: Diagnosis
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Trichomoniasis: Treatment Considerations
For HIV-infected women: same treatment as
non-HIV infected women
Metronidazole or Tinidazole
Sex partners have to be treated
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Providing Culturally Competent Care
The following factors can influence a woman’s
understanding of STDs and need for screening:
Language and literacy level
Cultural and social background and its impact on her
understanding of health, illness, and the female anatomy
Comfort with discussing sexual health issues
Comfort and previous experience with STD screening or
testing
History of sexual abuse and/or domestic violence may
cause anxiety and exam refusal
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Pearls of Wisdom
Get comfortable with obtaining a thorough sexual
history
Check oral cavity if genital STD suspected
Minimum of annual screening for STDs is
recommended, with more frequent screening if
high risk behaviors are reported
Partner notification and risk reduction
counseling for both patient and partner is an
important part of treatment and follow-up.
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Conclusion
STD screening and treatment should be a primary
intervention and a standard of care in all health care
settings.
Women infected with STDs have increased chances of
contracting HIV.
Studies show STD and HIV co-infection increases HIV
virus shedding in the patients’ genital secretions.
If co-infection is present, proper diagnosis and
treatment of STDs will decrease the chances of
transmitting HIV.
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Helpful Resources
AETC National Resource Center (NRC), www.aidsetc.org
Clinical Manual for Management of the HIV-Infected Adult
AIDSMAP,http://www.aidsmap.com
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, http://
www.cdc.gov/std
STD Treatment guidelines 2006
HIV / AIDS and STDs
Health Resources and Services Administration HIV/AIDS
Bureau, http://hab.hrsa.gov/
A Guide to the Clinical Care of Women with HIV/AIDS
HIVInsite, http://hivinsite.ucsf.edu
Transgender Awareness Training & Advocacy
http://www.tgtrain.org/
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References
Anderson, J.R, ed. (2005). A Guide to the Clinical Care of Women with HIV.
Health Resources and Services Administration HIV/AIDS Bureau.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Treatment Guidelines 2006. MMWR, Aug 4, 2006, 55.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Treatment Guidelines 2006. MMWR, April 13, 2007, 56
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Role of STD Detection and
Treatment in HIV Prevention. Retrieved on September 16, 2007 from
http://www.cdc.gov/std/hiv/STDFact-STD&HIV.htm#WhatIs
Health Resources and Services Administation, HIV/AIDS Bureau, AETC
National Resource Center. (2006). Guiding Principles for Cultural
Competency. Retrieved on September 20, 2007 from
http://www.aidsetc.org/doc/workgroups/cc-principles.doc
US Preventive Services Task Force. Screening for gonorrhea:
recommendation Statement. Ann Fam Med 2005;3:263-7.