Background and objectives: Genitourinary infections have a major impact on public health, especially in Africa. Relative distribution of the different pathogens is unknown in Bobo-Dioulasso.
Goal: To describe the etiology of genitourinary infections, to establish the sensitivity of Neisseria gonorrhoeae to antibiotics, and to provide epidemiologic and biologic evidence to optimize the treatment of genitourinary infections.
Study design: Clinical and biologic diagnoses were performed on 223 women with genitourinary infections.
Results: Etiologies found were trichomoniasis (27.8%), chlamydia (26.9%), bacterial vaginosis (19.7%), candidiasis (16.6), and N. gonorrhoeae infection (10.9%). Human immune deficiency virus antibodies were present in 42% of the patients. Spectinomycin or ceftriaxone should be recommended for the treatment of gonorrhoeae in Bobo-Dioulasso.
Conclusions: The prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis is higher than that of N. gonorrhoeae in Bobo-Dioulasso. This should be taken into account in clinical management of sexually transmitted diseases in this setting.
PIP: Genitourinary infections have a major impact upon public health, especially in Africa. This paper describes findings from a study conducted to describe the etiology of such infections in Bobo-Dioulasso, to establish the sensitivity of Neisseria gonorrhoeae to antibiotics, and to provide epidemiologic and biologic evidence to optimize the treatment of genitourinary infections. The findings are based upon clinical and biologic diagnoses among 223 women with genitourinary infections. Study found the following etiologies: trichomoniasis in 27.8%, chlamydia in 26.9%, bacterial vaginosis in 19.7%, candidiasis in 16.6%, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection in 10.9%. HIV antibodies were present in 42% of patients. The authors recommend spectinomycin or ceftriaxone for the treatment of gonorrhea in Bobo-Dioulasso. Moreover, that the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis is higher than that of Neisseria gonorrhoeae should be taken into account when managing STDs in this setting.