Care of Patients with Sexually Transmitted Infections

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the etiology, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, Genital Warts, Syphilis, and Genital Herpes.

Neisseria gonorrhoeae

The causative agent of gonorrhea.

Gonorrhea Symptoms (Men)

Commonly includes dysuria and penile discharge.

Gonorrhea Symptoms (Women)

Yellow-green discharge, urinary frequency, dysuria, abdominal pain, or pain with intercourse.

Gonorrhea Treatment of Choice

IM ceftriaxone plus oral azithromycin, or doxycycline.

EPT (Expedited Partner Therapy)

A strategy to treat sexual partners of patients diagnosed with an STI without the partner being examined by a provider.

Chlamydia trachomatis

An intracellular bacterium and the causative agent of genital chlamydial infections.

Chlamydia Treatment

Azithromycin (usually given as a one-time dose) or doxycycline.

Condylomata Acuminata

Another name for genital warts, which are caused by certain types of HPV (Human Papillomavirus).

Genital Wart Morphology

Single, small white or flesh-colored papillary growths that may grow into large, cauliflower-like masses.

Gardasil

A vaccine specific to HPV types 6 and 11 used to prevent genital warts.

Treponema pallidum

The spirochete responsible for causing the complex STI known as syphilis.

Primary Syphilis

The highly infectious first stage where a chancre develops at the site of entry.

Chancre

A small papule that breaks down to a painless, indurated, smooth weeping lesion found in primary syphilis.

Secondary Syphilis

A systemic stage often mistaken for the flu, characterized by a rash on the palmar surfaces of hands and feet and patchy alopecia.

Latent Syphilis

A stage where the patient is seropositive but remains asymptomatic.

Tertiary Syphilis

Occurs 4-20 years after original infection; results in cardiovascular infections, neurologic dementia, locomotor ataxia, or lesions on bones and internal organs.

VDRL and RPR

Venereal Disease Research Laboratory and Rapid Plasma Reagin tests used to diagnose syphilis based on antibody/antigen reaction.

Benzathine penicillin G

The standard drug therapy for all stages of syphilis, typically given as a single dose.

Genital Herpes

An acute, recurring, and incurable STI most commonly found in the US, with an incubation time of 2-20 days.

HSV-1

Herpes Simplex Virus 1, which typically causes non-genital lesions such as cold sores.

HSV-2

Herpes Simplex Virus 2, which primarily causes genital lesions.

Herpes Prodrome

A period of itching or tingling in the skin 1 to 2 days before an outbreak.

Herpes Treatment (Antivirals)

Acyclovir and Valcyclovir; they decrease severity, promote healing, and decrease frequency of outbreaks, but do not cure the infection.