Laboratory diagnosis of sexually transmitted infections in women with genital discharge in Madagascar: implications for primary care.

Women seeking care in Madagascar for genital discharge (n = 1,066) were evaluated for syphilis seroreactivity; bacterial vaginosis (BV) and trichomoniasis. Chlamydial infection was assessed by ligase chain reaction (LCR) and by direct immunofluorescence (IF); gonorrhoea by direct microscopy, culture and LCR. Leucocytes were determined in endocervical smears and in urine using leucocyte esterase dipstick (LED). Gonococcal isolates were tested for minimal inhibitory concentrations. BV was found in 56%, trichomoniasis in 25%, and syphilis in 6% of the women. LCR detected gonorrhoea in 13% and chlamydial infection in 11% of the women. Detection of Gram(-) intracellular diplococci in endocervical smears, and gonococcal culture were respectively 23% and 57% sensitive and 98% and 100% specific compared to LCR. Chlamydia antigen detection by IF was 75% sensitive and 77% specific compared to LCR. Leucocytes in endocervical smears and LED testing lacked precision to detect gonococcal and chlamydial infections. Of 67 gonococcal strains evaluated, 19% were fully susceptible to penicillin, 33% to tetracycline; all were susceptible to ciprofloxacin, ceftriaxone, and spectinomycin. Patients who present with genital discharge in Madagascar should be treated syndromically for gonococcal and chlamydial infections and screened for syphilis. Gonorrhoea should be treated with ciprofloxacin.

Sexually transmitted infections and associated socio-demographic and behavioural factors in women seeking primary care suggest Madagascar's vulnerability to rapid HIV spread.

OBJECTIVES: To examine sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and associated socio-demographic and behavioural factors in women seeking care for genital discharge syndrome in Antananarivo, Madagascar. METHODS: One thousand and sixty-six consecutive symptomatic women were interviewed and examined; bacterial vaginosis (BV), vulvovaginal candidiasis, trichomoniasis (TV), cervical infection (CI) due to chlamydial or gonococcal infections, and syphilis seroreactivity were determined by laboratory diagnosis. Associations between STIs and individual characteristics were evaluated using bivariate and logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: The prevalence of BV, TV, CI, and syphilis seroreactivity was, respectively, 85%, 16%, 49%, 16% in 94 prostitutes; 70%, 18%, 30%, 13% in 96 occasional sex traders; and 53%, 24%, 17%, and 4% in 876 general women. CI was independently and positively associated with a symptomatic partner, new sex partner in last 3 months, unfaithful partner, prostitution, joblessness and being < 25 years old. Syphilis was associated with low schooling, young age at coital debut, sex trading, and > 1 sex partner in the previous 3 months. CONCLUSIONS: These high STI rates and associated characteristics suggest the local vulnerability to rapid HIV spread and show the need for prevention efforts that involve youth, prostitutes, occasional sex traders, sex clients, and men who have concurrent sexual partnerships.

[Management of sexually transmitted diseases by the syndrome approach and voluntary HIV screening in a specialized dispensary in Antananarivo (Madagascar)]. / Prise en charge des Maladies Sexuellement Transmissibles par l'approche syndromique et le dépistage VIH volontaire dans un dispensaire spécialisé d'Antananarivo (Madagascar).

In 1994, Médecins du Monde opened a free health centre specialized in STD/AIDS in an ill-favored district of Antananarivo, the Malagasy capital of Madagascar. Besides the medical treatment of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) and AIDS, the centre is responsible for the Information, Education and Communication activities (IEC) within and without the centre towards the residents of the 67 hectares district and the high-risk populations (prostitutes, truck-drivers and transvestites). The project aimed at both preventing the spreading of the VIH infection and reducing the incidence of STD. As the Ministry of Health directed, a syndromic method was applied since 1997 regarding STD. Results for 1998 showed the predominance of the association Neisseria gonorrhae-Chlamydiae among the consultants of both sexes. Negative results from 1,218 HIV serological tests carried out seemed confirm the low prevalence of the HIV infection in Madagascar. Yet, the percentage of positive syphilis serology among the tested consultants was lower than that mentioned in previous surveys. Finally, it appears that the syndromic method is of high interest for the countries with limited laboratory capacities.