Rosales-Rimache J, Inolopú JL, Soncco-Llulluy FC, Medina-Ciprian L. Comparison of Three Methods for Diagnosing Trichomoniasis in Female Patients with Sexual Activity Attended at a Hospital in Peru.
J Parasitol Res 2023;
2023:9528942. [PMID:
38028127 PMCID:
PMC10665100 DOI:
10.1155/2023/9528942]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Revised: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background
Trichomoniasis is a sexually transmitted infection that mainly affects women. The diagnosis is made by different methods that identify the presence of Trichomonas vaginalis; therefore, sensitivity, specificity, and performance are essential to guarantee an adequate diagnosis. Our study is aimed at comparing three methods for diagnosing trichomoniasis in patients treated at a hospital in Peru during the year 2018.
Methods
We designed a cross-sectional study and enrolled women whose vaginal secretion samples were evaluated by direct examination, Papanicolaou staining, and culture in the Diamond medium.
Results
We evaluated 134 women with a mean age of 36.6 ± 12.1 years and a beginning of sexual activity of 18.5 ± 3.0 years. We found leukocyte infiltration, fetid odor, and strawberry cervix in 66.4%, 35.1%, and 18.7%. The prevalence of trichomoniasis by the culture method, direct examination, and Papanicolaou was 32.1, 21.6, and 11.2%. The direct examination's sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic performance (AUC) were 65.1%, 98.9%, and 82.0%, while for the Pap smear, they were 32.6%, 98.9%, and 65.7%%.
Conclusion
The culture of T. vaginalis is the gold standard for diagnosing trichomoniasis; however, direct examination is a fast, specific alternative with good diagnostic performance. The Pap test has low sensitivity and should not be used in settings where the prevalence and risk factors for trichomoniasis are high.
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