Genitourinary System Diseases

functions of urinary system

filter blood

create urine as a waste by-product

organs of urinary system

kidneys

renal pelvis

ureters

bladder

urethra

genitourinary system

composed of kidneys, ureters, bladder, urethra, and genital organs

Lactobacillus

after puberty, during the child-bearing age, female genital tract is acidic and this bacteria predominates and prevents growth of other microbes

is protective

Candida albicans

present normally in the healthy female reproductive tract but can overgrow if normal microbial population is altered

urinary tract infection (UTI)

severe oublic health problem and are caused by a range of pathogens, but most commonly by E.coli (80% of community-acquired infection)

other microbes are: Klebsiella pneumoniae and Proteus mirabilis

E. coli

K. pneumoniae

P. mirabilis

microbes that cause UTIs

uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC)

enters the urinary tract and travels to the bladder to cause cystitis

if left untreated, can ascend further into the kidneys to cause pyelonephritis

Neisseria

gram-negative cocci

2 primary human pathogens:

_____ gonorrhoeae

______ meningitidis

Neisseria gonorrhoeae

Neisseria meningitidis

types of Neisseria

gonorrhea

among the most prevalent sexually transmitted infections (STIs)

symptoms in males: urethritis, yellowish discharge, scarring, and infertility —→ 10% are asymptomatic

symptoms in females: vaginitis, urethritis, pelvic inflammatory disease, abdominal infection, common cause of sterility and ectopic tubal pregnancies —> 50% are asymptomatic

newborn: become infected as they pass through birth canal —> eye inflammation and blindness

chlamydia

common STD that can cause infection among both men and women

caused by bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis

Chlamydia trachomatis

bacteria that causes chlamydia

Syphilis

bacteria that causes this is Treponema pallidum

most common way its spread is through contact with an infected person’s sore

Treponema pallidum

bacteria that causes syphilis

stages of syphilis

primary stage

secondary stage

latent stage

third stage

primary stage of syphilis

first common symptom is the appearance of a painless sore, also known as ‘chancre’

secondary stage in syphilis

if the infection is left untreated during the primary stage, you may begin to feel ill with headache or fever

may develop rash on your body, often on the hands or feet

may include hair loss or weight loss

‘latent’ stage in syphilis

between the second and third stage, many people with a syphilis infection will not experience symptoms

third stage

over the following years, it can cause serious damage t important organs including the heart, brain, and nervous system

at this stage, can be fatal

candidiasis

fungal infection caused by the yeast Candida

most common: Candida albicans

the presence of pseudophyphae form in the specimens that indicates the active infection

Candida albicans

most common form of Candida

yeast Candida

causing agent of Candida

trichomoniasis

very common STD caused by Trichomonas vaginalis (protozoan parasite)

trichomoniasis

protozoa infection

genital herpes

an STD caused by two types of viruses: herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2)

pain, itching, small sores appear first

they form ulcers and scabs

after initial infection, it lies dormant in the body

symptoms can recur for years

human papillomavirus (HPV)

common virus that can cause cancers later in life

most infections go away by themselves within 2 years

can cause cancer of the cervix and other genital cancers and also on the back of the throat

causes about 36,000 cases of cancer in both men and women

any child can be protected from these cancers with hPV vaccine at age 11-12 years

STD awareness week

observed the second full week in April

provides an opportunity to raise awareness about STDs and how they impact our lives; reduce STI-related stigma fear and discrimination

ensure people have the tools and knowledge for prevention, testing, and treatment