Safae Karim1, Chahrazed Bouchikhi2, Abdelaziz Banani2, Hinde El Fatemi3, Tiatou Souho4, Sanaa Erraghay2, Bahia Bennani5. 1. PhD, URL-CNRST, Laboratory of Human Pathology, Biomedicine and Environment, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy Fez, Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah University, Sidi Harazem Road, Fez, 30070, Morocco. 2. MD, Department of Gynecology, Hassan II University Hospital Center, Sidi Harazem Road, Fez, 30070, Morocco. 3. MD, Department of Anatomopathology, Hassan II University Hospital Center, Sidi Harazem Road, Fez, 30070, Morocco. 4. PhD, URL-CNRST, Laboratory of Human Pathology, Biomedicine and Environment, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy Fez, Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah University, Fez, 30070, Morocco. 5. PhD, Head of URL-CNRST, Laboratory of Human Pathology, Biomedicine and Environment, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy Fez, Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah University, Sidi Harazem Road, Fez, 30070, Morocco.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: In Morocco, a syndromic approach has been implemented for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) management. However, those infections can be asymptomatic and the use of the syndromic approach to their management can be inappropriate and lead to dissemination of infection. Therefore, it would be important to determine the epidemiology and risk factors of bacterial STIs (Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Mycoplasma genitalium (MG)) in a Moroccan population and their association with symptoms to assess the appropriacy of the use of the syndromic approach. METHODS: Cervical samples were collected from symptomatic and asymptomatic consenting women attending the University Hospital of Fez and were tested by PCR for NG, CT and MG using specific primers. We assessed the infection status and its association with different risk factors and genital STIs-related symptoms. RESULTS: Of 809 tested for CT, NG and MG, 16.6% tested positive for at least one STI. Of the 134 participants who tested positive for at least one bacterial STI, 74.2% had no genital STIs-related symptoms. Moreover, the results showed a significantly high rate of NG and MG infections in asymptomatic women. However, the determined risk factors for NG, MG and CT infections were menopause (p=0.002), oral contraception (p=0.036) and a high number of parities (p=0.048), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This investigation shows a predominance of NG infection and a high prevalence of STIs in asymptomatic patients. These results highlight that the adopted syndromic approach will not be adapted in the management of these STIs. Thus, the implementation of a systematic diagnostic program in order to enhance their management is needed. GERMS.
INTRODUCTION: In Morocco, a syndromic approach has been implemented for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) management. However, those infections can be asymptomatic and the use of the syndromic approach to their management can be inappropriate and lead to dissemination of infection. Therefore, it would be important to determine the epidemiology and risk factors of bacterial STIs (Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Mycoplasma genitalium (MG)) in a Moroccan population and their association with symptoms to assess the appropriacy of the use of the syndromic approach. METHODS: Cervical samples were collected from symptomatic and asymptomatic consenting women attending the University Hospital of Fez and were tested by PCR for NG, CT and MG using specific primers. We assessed the infection status and its association with different risk factors and genital STIs-related symptoms. RESULTS: Of 809 tested for CT, NG and MG, 16.6% tested positive for at least one STI. Of the 134 participants who tested positive for at least one bacterial STI, 74.2% had no genital STIs-related symptoms. Moreover, the results showed a significantly high rate of NG and MG infections in asymptomatic women. However, the determined risk factors for NG, MG and CT infections were menopause (p=0.002), oral contraception (p=0.036) and a high number of parities (p=0.048), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This investigation shows a predominance of NG infection and a high prevalence of STIs in asymptomatic patients. These results highlight that the adopted syndromic approach will not be adapted in the management of these STIs. Thus, the implementation of a systematic diagnostic program in order to enhance their management is needed. GERMS.
Authors: Teresa Fasciana; Giuseppina Capra; Paola Di Carlo; Cinzia Calà; Marco Vella; Giuseppe Pistone; Claudia Colomba; Anna Giammanco Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-04-28 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Lori Newman; Jane Rowley; Stephen Vander Hoorn; Nalinka Saman Wijesooriya; Magnus Unemo; Nicola Low; Gretchen Stevens; Sami Gottlieb; James Kiarie; Marleen Temmerman Journal: PLoS One Date: 2015-12-08 Impact factor: 3.240