Transmission of STIs Study Quiz

Transmission of STIs

• Over 30 different pathogens can be transmitted through sexual contact (vaginal, anal, oral).
• Some STIs can be passed from mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding.
• Eight key pathogens are linked to high incidence of STIs, with four being curable:
  • Curable: syphilis, gonorrhoea, chlamydia, trichomoniasis.
  • Viral: hepatitis B, herpes simplex virus (HSV), HIV, human papillomavirus (HPV).
• New infections like mpox, Shigella sonnei, Neisseria meningitidis, Ebola, and Zika are emerging.
• Neglected STIs such as lymphogranuloma venereum are re-emerging.

Scope of the Problem

• STIs greatly affect sexual and reproductive health globally.
• More than 1 million curable STIs are acquired daily.
• WHO estimated 374 million new infections in 2020, broken down as:
  • Chlamydia: 129 million
  • Gonorrhoea: 82 million
  • Syphilis: 7.1 million
  • Trichomoniasis: 156 million
• Over 490 million people lived with genital herpes in 2016.
• Approximately 300 million women have HPV, a leading cause of cervical and anal cancers.
• Updated estimates in 2022 indicated 254 million people living with hepatitis B.
• Serious consequences of STIs include increased risk of HIV, stillbirth, neonatal death, low birth weights, and various cancers.

Prevention of STIs

• Correct and consistent condom use is highly effective against STIs, including HIV, but not for extra-genital ulcers (e.g., syphilis, genital herpes).
• Vaccines for hepatitis B and HPV have significantly advanced STI prevention efforts.
• By the end of 2023, the HPV vaccine was introduced in 140 countries as part of routine immunization, primarily in high- and middle-income nations.
• 2030 goals aim to eliminate cervical cancer with high vaccination coverage, screening, and treatment infrastructure in place.
• Research on genital herpes vaccines is progressing, with candidates in early clinical stages.
• Evidence suggests the MenB vaccine may provide cross-protection against gonorrhoea.
• Additional research is needed for vaccines targeting chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis, and trichomoniasis.
• Alternative biomedical interventions include voluntary medical male circumcision, microbicides, and partner treatment.
• Ongoing trials are assessing pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis for STIs and the implications of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Test your knowledge on the transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and the pathogens involved. This quiz covers both curable and viral STIs, their modes of transmission, and implications for pregnant individuals. Explore the critical differences between STIs and how they can affect health.