Genital Ulcer Disease: How Worrisome Is It Today? A Status Report from New Delhi, India

Trends in genital ulcer disease: An observational study at a tertiary care teaching hospital

Introduction

Genital ulcer disease (GUD) often creates diagnostic difficulty in developing countries like India, with limited resources available in the health-care system. The changing etiology in GUDs over the years makes it imperative that a correct diagnosis is made to establish appropriate treatment and formulate awareness programs.

Aims

This study was done to determine the recent trends in the demographic parameters, clinical presentations, etiology of GUDs, and their association with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Materials and Methods

An observational cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2021 to August 2022 at the Dermatology Outpatient Department in our hospital. All the patients who presented with GUDs were included after written informed consent. The diagnosis of GUD was confirmed by thorough clinical examination and appropriate laboratory test. Data were entered and analyzed using IBM SPSS software.

Results

Out of 135 cases of GUDs, the majority were males (79%). The most common age group was 21-30 years, with a mean age of 35.23 ± 14.98 years. Most of the patients were heterosexual (90%). Multiple sexual partners were found in 40% of cases. Herpes genitalis was the most common GUD (59%), followed by syphilis (15%). HIV infection was found in 6.6% of cases.

Conclusion

This study represents the increasing burden of viral GUDs compared to the last three decades. The ulcerative sexually transmitted infection facilitates the transmission of HIV. In this HIV era, there is a need for increased efforts toward acknowledgment, safe sexual practices, periodic screening, and sexual health awareness programs in the high-risk population.

Isolation, characterization and acyclovir susceptibility of herpes simplex virus isolates among immunocompromised patients

Introduction

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) Type 2 primarily causes genital herpes, while HSV Type 1 is responsible for oral and facial lesions. The objective of this study was to isolate and characterize HSV from herpetic lesions among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected patients and to evaluate their acyclovir susceptibility pattern.

Materials and Methods

Blister fluid and swabs from ulcers were collected from patients with clinical diagnosis of HSV infection among patients attending the HIV clinic of two tertiary care centers - Medical College, Kolkata, and School of Tropical Medicine, Kolkata. These samples were cultured in the Vero cell line. Growth of virus was noted by observing the characteristic cytopathic effect of HSV, which was further confirmed by immunofluorescence and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). These isolates were then subjected to the Vero cells with serial dilutions of acyclovir for determining the susceptibility pattern.

Results

Among the 52 samples received, 8 (15.38%) showed growth of HSV. After confirmation by immunofluorescence and PCR, all seven isolates from genital samples were identified as HSV-2 and the lone isolate from oral lesion was confirmed as HSV 1. Out of the eight isolates, 25% showed resistance to acyclovir. The overall isolation rate was more from genital blister than genital ulcer which was 46.15% and 2.86%, respectively.

Conclusion

HSV was isolated in 15.38% of cases of clinical herpes. There was a higher isolation rate of virus from blister fluid as compared to ulcer scrapings. Acyclovir resistance in 25% of cases is alarmingly high.

A descriptive study of the clinical and etiological profile of balanoposthitis

Background:

Balanoposthitis is defined as an inflammatory condition of glans penis and prepuce. There are wide variety of etiologies including both infectious and noninfectious conditions. This study attempts to throw light on information regarding clinical and microbiological aspects of balanoposthitis.

Objectives:

To study various clinical patterns, etiologies, and predisposing factors of balanoposthitis.

Methodology:

A descriptive study was undertaken on 106 cases who presented to sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic with balanoposthitis between November 2017 and April 2019. A detailed history, physical examination, and investigations like KOH mount, leishman staining, gram staining, dark field microscopy, cultures, and other investigations were done wherever indicated. The data collected was tabulated and analyzed.

Results:

In our study, infectious etiology was the most common and was found in 77.36% cases. About 13.41% of cases with infectious balanoposthitis had multiple etiological agents. Noninfectious etiology was found in 22.64% cases. The most common infectious cause of balanoposthitis was candida, noted in 59.76% cases, followed by herpes simplex virus (19.51%), human papilloma virus (13.41%), and scabies (8.54%). Among noninfectious etiologies, adverse drug reaction (4.72% of total cases) was the most common, followed by lichen planus (3.77%) and psoriasis (3.77%). There was significantly higher incidence of phimosis in diabetic patients with candidal balanoposthitis.

Conclusion:

Identifying the etiology facilitates early treatment and hence reduces the infectivity and transmission of disease and also the disease complications like phimosis. In addition, multiple infectious etiologies should always be kept in mind while evaluating STDs.

Herpes Simplex Virus 1 and 2 in Herpes Genitalis: A Polymerase Chain Reaction-Based Study from Kerala

BACKGROUND

Herpes genitalis is an ulcerating sexually transmitted infection, the clinical importance of which lies in its ability to produce painful and recurrent disease in addition to its potential role as a cofactor in acquisition and transmission of human immunodeficiency virus. In recent years, there are increasing reports of genital herpes due to herpes simplex virus (HSV)-1 from various parts of the world. Molecular diagnostic methods such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) have got both diagnostic and prognostic significance in genital herpes.

AIMS

The present study was designed to identify the viral serotype in herpes genitalis patients in our locality, using PCR.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The specimens from forty herpes genitalis patients were subjected to nested PCR and results were evaluated.

RESULTS

PCR was positive for HSV in 83% of cases, of which 58% were due to HSV-1. HSV-2 accounted for maximum number of recurrent herpes.

LIMITATION

Higher sample size would have been more representative.

CONCLUSION

A rising trend of type 1 HSV was observed in herpes genitalis in south India probably due to increasing practice of orogenital sex.

Molecular methods in the laboratory diagnosis of sexually transmitted infections

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a public health problem, and their prevalence is rising even in developed nations, in the era of HIV/AIDS. While the consequences of STIs can be serious, the good news is that many of these complications are preventable if appropriate screening is done in high-risk individuals, when infection is strongly suspected. The diagnostic tests for STIs serve many purposes. Apart from aiding in the diagnosis of typical cases, they help diagnose atypical cases, asymptomatic infections and also multiple infections. But, the test methods used must fulfill the criteria of accuracy, affordability, accessibility, efficiency, sensitivity, specificity and ease of handling. The results must be rapid, cost-effective and reliable. Most importantly, they have to be less dependent on collection techniques. The existing diagnostic methods for STIs are fraught with several challenges, including delay in results, lack of sensitivity and specificity. With the rise of the machines in diagnostic microbiology, molecular methods offer increased sensitivity, specificity and speed. They are especially useful for microorganisms that cannot be, or are difficult to cultivate. With the newer diagnostic technologies, we are on the verge of a major change in the approach to STI control. When diagnostic methods are faster and results more accurate, they are bound to improve patient care. As automation and standardization increase and human error decreases, more laboratories will adopt molecular testing methods. An overview of these methods is given here, including a note on the point-of-care tests and their usefulness in the era of rapid diagnostic tests.