STI

Question 1

What is an STI?

Answer 1

Infectious disease spread via sexual contact (penis, vagina, mouth, fluids); can also spread via blood, birth, needles; NOT casual contact; Complications: infertility, cancer, psychosocial impact; Mnemonic: ‘STIs = SILENT SPREADERS’

Question 2

How are STIs transmitted?

Answer 2

Mucosal contact (genitals, rectum, mouth), skin-to-skin, sexual fluids, blood, birth, needle sharing, autoinoculation; Mnemonic: ‘SKIN + SEX + SECRETIONS’

Question 3

Key risk factors for STIs

Answer 3

<25, multiple partners, inconsistent condom use, substance use, prior STI, lack of vaccines, MSM/transgender populations; Mnemonic: ‘RISK = Random partners, Inconsistent protection, Substances, Knowledge gaps’

Question 4

Health equity issues in STIs

Answer 4

Limited access to care, distrust of providers, socioeconomic barriers; leads to delayed diagnosis/treatment

Question 5

Best STI prevention method

Answer 5

Male condoms (best protection besides abstinence); hormonal birth control DOES NOT prevent STIs; Mnemonic: ‘CONDOMS prevent, hormones don’t’

Question 6

Reportable STIs

Answer 6

Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Syphilis; must report to public health; Mnemonic: ‘CGS = Call Government Soon’

Question 7

Chlamydia cause & basics

Answer 7

Bacterial (Chlamydia trachomatis); most common bacterial STI; often asymptomatic; reinfection possible; incubation 1–3 weeks

Question 8

Chlamydia transmission

Answer 8

Sexual fluids (vaginal, anal, oral); more transmission male → female

Question 9

Chlamydia sites

Answer 9

Men: urethra (urethritis); Women: cervix (cervicitis); also rectum & oropharynx

Question 10

Chlamydia symptoms

Answer 10

Often none; Men: dysuria, discharge; Women: mucopurulent discharge, bleeding, dysuria, dyspareunia; Rectal: pain, discharge, tenesmus

Question 11

Chlamydia complications

Answer 11

PID, infertility (more common in women)

Question 12

Chlamydia diagnosis

Answer 12

NAAT (nucleic acid amplification test); test for other STIs too

Question 13

Chlamydia treatment

Answer 13

Azithromycin or doxycycline; treat partners; abstain 7 days; retest in 3 months

Question 14

Gonorrhea cause & basics

Answer 14

Bacterial (Neisseria gonorrhoeae); gram-negative diplococcus; 2nd most common STI; reinfection possible; incubation 1–14 days

Question 15

Gonorrhea transmission

Answer 15

Sexual fluids; infects urethra, cervix, rectum, oropharynx

Question 16

Gonorrhea symptoms

Answer 16

Men: dysuria, purulent discharge, epididymitis; Women: often asymptomatic, discharge, dysuria, bleeding

Question 17

Gonorrhea complications

Answer 17

Men: infertility (epididymitis); Women: PID, Bartholin gland infection, pregnancy complications; Neonates: conjunctivitis

Question 18

Gonorrhea diagnosis

Answer 18

Culture discharge + clinical exam

Question 19

Gonorrhea treatment

Answer 19

Ceftriaxone IM single high dose; treat partners; abstain 7 days

Question 20

Trichomoniasis cause & basics

Answer 20

Protozoa (Trichomonas vaginalis); most common nonviral STI worldwide; men often asymptomatic; incubation 1 week–3 months

Question 21

Trichomoniasis symptoms

Answer 21

Women: frothy yellow-green discharge, foul odor, strawberry cervix; Men: dysuria, discharge

Question 22

Trichomoniasis complications

Answer 22

Increases risk of HIV; NOT linked to PID

Question 23

Trichomoniasis diagnosis

Answer 23

NAAT (gold standard)

Question 24

Trichomoniasis treatment

Answer 24

Metronidazole (7 days) or tinidazole (single dose); treat partners; retest 2 weeks–3 months

Question 25

Genital herpes cause & basics

Answer 25

HSV-1 & HSV-2; lifelong viral infection; HSV-1 oral, HSV-2 genital (but can overlap); latent in dorsal root ganglia

Question 26

Genital herpes transmission

Answer 26

Skin-to-skin, mucosal contact; asymptomatic shedding possible

Question 27

Genital herpes symptoms

Answer 27

Painful vesicles/ulcers, flu-like symptoms, lymphadenopathy; recurrent outbreaks (triggers: stress, illness)

Question 28

Genital herpes complications

Answer 28

Encephalitis, meningitis, neonatal infection, ↑ HIV risk

Question 29

Genital herpes diagnosis

Answer 29

Clinical + lesion culture

Question 30

Genital herpes treatment

Answer 30

Acyclovir (reduces severity, not curative); keep lesions clean/dry

Question 31

Genital herpes mnemonic

Answer 31

'HERPES HURTS & HIDES'

Question 32

HPV cause & basics

Answer 32

Human papillomavirus; causes genital warts; incubation months–years; often transient (clears in 1–2 years)

Question 33

HPV symptoms

Answer 33

Flesh-colored, cauliflower-like warts; often asymptomatic

Question 34

HPV complications

Answer 34

High-risk strains → cancers (cervical, etc.); psychosocial burden

Question 35

HPV diagnosis

Answer 35

Clinical exam

Question 36

HPV treatment

Answer 36

Remove warts (chemical/ablative); HPV vaccine prevents most cases

Question 37

HPV mnemonic

Answer 37

'HPV = Hidden Papilloma Virus (warts + cancer risk)'

Question 38

Syphilis cause & basics

Answer 38

Bacterial (Treponema pallidum); transmitted via chancre contact; incubation 10–90 days; can cross placenta

Question 39

Syphilis stages

Answer 39

Primary: chancre; Secondary: rash/systemic; Latent: no symptoms; Tertiary: severe systemic damage

Question 40

Syphilis complications

Answer 40

Neurosyphilis, cardiovascular damage, gummas, ↑ HIV risk

Question 41

Syphilis diagnosis

Answer 41

VDRL (screen) + confirmatory test; false results possible

Question 42

Syphilis treatment

Answer 42

Penicillin G; doxycycline if allergic; follow-up required

Question 43

Syphilis mnemonic

Answer 43

'Sore → Spread → Silent → Systemic'

Question 44

General STI nursing care

Answer 44

Nonjudgmental approach, assess sexual history, consider gender identity, provide education & counseling

Question 45

STI prevention teaching

Answer 45

Condom use, vaccines (HPV), routine screening, partner notification

Question 46

Partner management

Answer 46

Notify/treat all partners (usually past 60–90 days depending on STI)