Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Treponema pallidum, Trichomonas vaginalis and Candida species Infections among Symptomatic Patients Attending at Gondar Town Hospitals and Health Centers, Northwest Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Sexually transmitted infection (STI) is a major global cause of acute illness, infertility, long-term disability and death, with serious medical and psychological consequences to millions people. In Ethiopia epidemiological study on STI is limited. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine prevalence and associated risk factors of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Treponema palladium, Trichomonas Vaginalis and Candida species infections. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among STI patients attending Gondar town hospitals and health centers between April and August 2013. One hundred twenty consecutive symptomatic study participants were enrolled in the study. Socio-demographic data from each study participant was collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. Samples (blood and urogenital discharges) were collected and laboratory diagnosis for STI was done. Antimicrobial susceptibility test of N. gonorrhoeae was done using disc diffusion technique. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and logistic regression using SPSS version 20. Results: The overall prevalence of laboratory confirmed STI was 89(74.1%). Candida species, T. palladium, N. gonorrhoeae and T. vaginalis infections were accounted 39(32.5%), 36(30%), 25(20.8%) and 17(14.2%), respectively. The prevalence of Candida species and T. palladium were higher in HIV positive patients. Unmarried patients were at higher risk of T. vaginalis infection (AOR 5.9, 95%CI 1.18-29.9, p=0.036) as compared to married study subjects. HIV infection (AOR 11.9, 95% CI 3.0-46.4, p=0.00) and regular alcohol intake (OR 3.9, 95% CI 1.2- 12.9, p=0.02) were also significant predictors of T. pallidum infection. Isolated N. gonorrhea was resistant to tetracycline (100%), penicillin (76%), ciprofloxacin (52%) and ceftriaxone (48%) and 80% of the isolates showed multidrug resistance. Conclusions: Higher prevalence of N. gonorrhoeae, T. pallidum, T. vaginalis, and Candida species infections among symptomatic STI suspected patients were observed. Being HIV positive and regular alcohol intake were significant predictors of STI infections. Drug resistance of N. gonorrhoeae to ciprofloxacin and ceftriaxone were very high. Thus, treatment of gonococcal infection should be supported with drug susceptibility testing.