Sexually Transmitted Infections - Viruses




Sexually Transmitted Infections – Viruses


Herpes Simplex Virus, Human Papillomavirus, Molluscum Contagiosum

1.     Herpes Simplex Virus
a.     Herpes Simplex Virus 1 and 2
b.     Symptoms
                                               i.     Highly variable, and depend on the course of infection, and whether it is a primary, recurrent, or non-primary infection
1.     Primary Infection
a.     Systemic symptoms of fever, headache, malaise, myalgias
b.     Local symptoms of pain, dysuria, tender lymphadenopathy
c.      Painful genital ulcers: pustular vesicular lesions on an erythematous base which ulcerate and the crust over
2.     Recurrent Infection 
a.     Common
b.     Less severe than primary or non-primary infection
c.      Systemic infections or symptoms are atypical
3.     Non-Primary Infection
a.     An initial outbreak of an HSV serotype in a patient who had a prior HSV infection with a different serotype
b.     Severity is generally less than a primary infection, but worse than recurrent infection, and may or may not have systemic symptoms
                                              ii.     Extragenital Manifestations
1.     Meningitis
a.     Altered mental status, LP finds pleocytosis with predominantly lymphocytes, normal CSF glucose concentration
b.     May be recurrent, and if so, may or may not appear at the time of genital lesions
2.     Disseminated HSV
a.     Typically seen in immunocompromised individuals, includes visceral manifestations
                                                                                                     i.     Pneumonitis, Esophagitis, Hepatitis, Chorioretinitis, Keratitis
3.     Proctitis
c.      Transmission
                                               i.     Direct contact, either from lesions during outbreaks, or from asymptomatic viral shedding
d.     Testing
                                               i.     Viral Culture
1.     May be performed if the lesion is intact; the provider will unroof the vescicle and the sample of fluid is collected
                                              ii.     PCR
1.     Higher sensitivity than cultures, and may detect asymptomatic shedding.
2.     Obtained from genital ulcers or mucocutaneous sites
3.     Test of choice for CSF
                                            iii.     Tzanck Smear
1.     Multinucleated giant cells
                                            iv.     Direct Fluorescent Antibody
1.     Rapid test to detect HSV in specimen
                                              v.     Serology
1.     Type-Specific Antibodies
2.     May be negative in primary infections
3.     Useful if the patient didn’t receive a workup during the outbreak, or if the HSV culture is negative
4.     Also used to determine partner susceptibility
                                            vi.     Asymptomatic Screening
1.     Not recommended given low specificity and high false-positive rates
e.     Treatment
                                               i.     General Principles
1.     Prompt initiation of treatment reduces pain, length of outbreak, decrease time of viral shedding
                                              ii.     Primary Outbreak
1.     First Line
a.     Acyclovir 400mg TID x7-10d
b.     Valacyclovir 1000mg BID x7-10d
c.      Famciclovir 250mg TID x7-10d
2.     Disseminated HSV, CNS involvement, or complicated HSV may require IV antiviral
a.     Acyclovir 5-10mg/kg IV q8h x2-7d, then PO therapy to complete 10d course
                                            iii.     Further Therapy
1.     Consider adherence, costs, partner seropositivity, and psychosocial impact of recurrent infections and medications when selecting therapy
2.     No therapy
3.     Episodic
a.     Patient is given script and instructed to take medication when prodromal symptoms begin
b.     First Line
                                                                                                     i.     Acyclovir 800mg TID x2d, 800mg BID x5d, 400mg TID x5
                                                                                                    ii.     Famciclovir 1000mg BID x1d, 125mg BID x5d, 500mg X1d f/b 250mg BID x2d
                                                                                                  iii.     Valacyclovir 500mg BID x3d, 1000mg QD x5d
4.     Chronic
a.     Daily administration
b.     Often used for those with frequent outbreaks (often defined as >10 outbreaks per year), and those with seronegative partners
c.      First Line
                                                                                                     i.     Acyclovir 400mg BID
                                                                                                    ii.     Famciclovir 250mg BID
                                                                                                  iii.     Valacyclovir 500mg QD or 1000mg QD
5.     Immunosuppresed
a.     Treatment duration and doses are generally higher
b.     HIV patients who have better HIV control demonstrate fewer outbreaks
                                            iv.     Pregnancy
1.     Generally, all outbreaks are treated in pregnancy, and women are placed on suppression
2.     Routine suppression is performed at 36 weeks
3.     Acyclovir or Valacyclovir are used in pregnancy
4.     Vertical Transmission
a.     Often acquired via the genital tract during labor and delivery, with greatest risk from primary infections
b.     Neonate may present with localized infection of skin/eyes/mouth, CNS, or disseminated illness
2.     Human Papillomavirus
a.     Most commonly transmitted STI, at least 80% of all sexually active individuals get at least one strain of HPV in their lifetime
                                               i.     ~360,000 new cases of genital warts, ~10,300 cervical cancers
b.     Symptoms
                                               i.     Linked to a variety of conditions
1.     Malignancy
a.     Cervical Cancer
                                                                                                     i.     Many strains are considered ‘High-Risk’, the highest risk include HPV 16, 18, 31, 33
b.     Anal Cancer
                                                                                                     i.     A/w HPV 16
                                                                                                    ii.     Most commonly seen in MSM population
c.      Penile Cancer
                                                                                                     i.     A/w HPV 16
d.     Head/Neck Cancers
                                                                                                     i.     Can be seen in surgeons who perform laser procedures
2.     Warts
a.     Nongenital
                                                                                                     i.     Very common, and present as common warts, plantar warts, and flat warts
                                                                                                    ii.     Laryngeal papillomatosis
b.     Genital
                                                                                                     i.     A/w HPV 6 and 11
c.      Natural History
                                               i.     Many people are infected by HPV, and the majority of immunocompetent individuals clear the infection spontaneously and without sequelae
                                              ii.     If the infection is not cleared, it may progress to dysplasia and invasion, over a period of many years
d.     Prevention
                                               i.     HPV vaccination
1.     Current Nonavalent, Quadrivalent, and Bivalent vaccines exists
a.     Nonavalent: HPV strains for genital warts (HPV 6 and 11) as well as the 7 most common strains for causing cervical cancer
2.     Series of three vaccines, age 9-26, given at 0, 1-2m, and 6m. 
a.     Series does not need to be restarted if interrupted
3.     Can be given if patient has begun sexual activity
4.     Not recommended during pregnancy
5.     Ok to administer in immunocompromised
e.     Transmission
                                               i.     Sexual contact, not necessarily prevented by condom use
f.      Cervical Cancer Screening
                                               i.     Age <21: No screening, regardless of sexual history
                                              ii.     Age 21-29: Cytology every 3 years, HPV testing if ASCUS
                                            iii.     Age 30-65: Cotesting every 5 years, or Cytology every 3 years
                                            iv.     Age >65: No screening. Or, if h/o CIN2 or greater, continue routine screening for 20 years.
                                              v.     After Hysterectomy: No screening. Or, if h/o CIN2 or greater, continue routine screening for 20 years.
                                            vi.     If vaccinated against HPV: No effect on screening or management
3.     Molluscum Contagiosum
a.     Poxvirus
b.     Symptoms
                                               i.     Chronic, localized infection manifested by flesh-colored, dome-shaped papules with a central umbilication.
                                              ii.     Any skin surface except palms/soles.
                                            iii.     Dermatitis may occur surrounding a papule, with an eczematous patch/plaque, and therefore exacerbate infection via scratching.
c.      Transmission: Direct skin contact, athletes, children, shaving.
                                               i.     In adults, genital papules are classified as sexually-transmitted.
                                              ii.     Molluscum is a common infection in children, and anogenital lesions are typically not sexually-transmitted but are a consequence of auto-innoculation.
d.     Diagnosis: Clinical.
e.     Clinical Course: Immunocompetent patients resolve lesions in a few months, and the infection is usually cleared within a year.
                                               i.     In immunocompromised patients, disseminated molluscum may occur - it is an AIDS defining lesion.
                                              ii.     Extensive lesions should prompt immunological evaluation.
f.      Treatment:
                                               i.     Principles of Treatment
1.     Prior to treatment, a full skin examination should be performed to identify all lesions.
2.     Treatment is recommended in immunocompromised individuals, and in those with sexually-transmitted infections.
3.     Insufficient evidence that any treatment is effective.
                                              ii.     Cryotherapy
1.     SE’s: scars, hypopigmentation
                                            iii.     Curettage
1.     Benefit of being rapid and immediate
2.     SE’s: bleeding, scarring
                                            iv.     Cantharidin
1.     Applied by physician, then washed off 2-6hrs later or upon blistering, repeated q2-4wks
2.     Avoid on face, genitals
3.     SE’s: pain, burning, pruritis, scarring
                                              v.     Podophyllotoxin
1.     Safety not established in young children
2.     SE’s: erythema, pruritis, inflammation, erosions
                                            vi.     For severe cases in immunocompromised individuals:
1.     Interferon-alpha
a.     SE’s: flu-like symptoms
2.     Cedofovir
a.     SE’s: nephrotoxicity


Image from BBC

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