Challenges of treatment for urethritis and cervicitis, (SY06:5)

• Challenges of treatment for urethritis and cervicitis Urethritis in men caused by gonorrhoea is symptomatic. Non-gonorrhoic-urethritis (NGU) i.e. caused by Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma genitalium and occasionally other bacteria is in most cases an asymptomatic infection. Swartz’ definition of microscopic urethritis > 4 polymorphonucleated leucocytes (PML) per high power field (HPF) in > 4 HPF is the general accepted, but has limitations and is dependant on the sampling, microscope, the physician and the patient as well. Cervicitis is even more cumbersome since it is even more often asymptomatic. Other factors such as which contraception method is used, concurrent infections (bacterial vaginosis, candidosis), the microscope and the physician, may have a great impact. Brunham proposed as definition observed mucopurulent discharge from the cervix orifice combined with > 10 PML per HPF in stained endocervical smear. Lindner proposed sign of friability of the portio cervicis. Weström found a correlation of more PML than vaginal epithelial cells in wet mount. The variety of definitions causes problem in comparing scientific studies and at the clinic as well. The intention to treat also means testing and treatment of a current sexual partner as well. The ever emerging decreased susceptibility of various antibiotics especially against Neisseria gonorrhoeae and M. genitalium makes it even more important to choose whether to treat immediately without having positive tests or to miss a treatment of a potential serious infection. N. gonorrhoeae is visible microscopically in urethral stains from men, but can be missed in smears from endocervix and urethra in women. Cefixim 400 mg stat is the recommended first line antibiotic treatment. Ceftriaxone 500 mg is under consideration to become the first treatment of choice due to emerging decreased susceptibility. M.genitalium will be discussed in another speech by Jørgen Skov Jensen. There are some few reports of antibiotic resistance of Chlamydia trachomatis but this infection is generally still eradicated by tetracycline and macrolide treatment. In an NGU and or unspecific cervicitis doxycycline 100 mg bid for one week is the first treatment of choice. Azithromycin 1 g stat should be used with precaution. If there are persisting signs and or symptoms after doxycycline treatment, azithromycin 500 mg day 1 and 250 mg following four days should be prescribed. Bacterial vaginosis may give symptoms and signs of cervicitis and is also a very common concurrent infection in women with C. trachomatis and M.genitalium as well and treatment with metronidazole or clindamycin should be considered. The fast ways of communication via the Internet and the easy accessible and legal way of an individual to buy antibiotics just for safe or to avoid attending a clinic is a big threat now and even more in the future because of the potential rapid increasing antibiotic resistance of many bacterial infections including STIs

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Dermatologi och venereologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Dermatology and Venereal Diseases (hsv//eng)

Keyword

uretrit

cervicit

behandling

Publication and Content Type

vet (subject category)

kon (subject category)