COLLABORATIVE APPROACH TO IMPROVE THE DETECTION AND MANAGEMENT OF TRICHOMONIASIS IN A LOW-PREVALENCE DISTRICT

We describe a simple collaborative approach developed by the departmen ts of cytology, microbiology and genitourinary (GU) medicine for the d etection, diagnosis and management of microbiologically confirmed Tric homonas vaginalis (TV) infection. Over a 2-year period, 54 (0.1%) of 5 2,440 cervical smears were reported to show TV, but microbiological co nfirmation was made in only 76% of 34 patients from whom a vaginal swa b was subsequently taken. Trichomoniasis should not be diagnosed by cy tology alone and clinicians need further education on the role of cyto logy in diagnosing sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Over the same period, from a total of 96 cases of TV identified in the district, on ly 12 (13%) were first diagnosed in the department of GU medicine. For ty per cent of the other 84 patients were subsequently seen in the GU clinic for test of cure, contact tracing and screening for other STDs. Collaborations between departments may improve the management of tric homoniasis and other conditions in the community and their development should be encouraged.