1 Trichomoniasis is the most common curable sexually transmitted infection worldwide
Although trichomoniasis is not a reportable disease, the estimated North American prevalence is 2.8%-3.1% among women and 0.2%-0.5% among men, with higher rates in patients with multiple sexual partners. (1,2) Infection with Trichomonas vaginalis increases the risk of HIV acquisition and puts a pregnant person at a 40%-50% increased risk of poor outcomes, including premature rupture of membranes and preterm birth. (3)
2 Routine screening for trichomoniasis is performed only in HIV-positive women; otherwise, test only if symptomatic
Symptoms include purulent vaginal discharge, pruritis, dysuria and dyspareunia. (1) Although wet mount microscopy (sensitivity 51%-65%), antigen detection (sensitivity 82%-95%) and nucleic acid hybridization (sensitivity 63%) assays are available, nucleic acid amplification testing is the most sensitive assay for detecting T. vaginalis in women. (3) Testing for men is not universally available in Canada and men are typically treated empirically.
3 First-line treatment for pregnant and...