Trichomonas vaginalis infection: treatment and patient education

Abstract

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) involve the transmission of an organism between sexual partners through different routes of sexual contact, whether oral, anal or vaginal. STIs have become a concern and a problem for health systems, as many infections go untreated and lead to potentially serious complications. Trichomonas vaginalis is one of the most common STIs in the world, and trichomoniasis has also been recognized as a risk factor for the transmission of human immunodeficiency virus and papillomavirus. With increasing reports of drug-resistant clinical isolates, trichomoniasis is emerging as a public health threat. Therefore, this article is a review of current evidence that addresses treatment guidelines for Trichomonas vaginitis, as well as treatment for pregnant and lactating women, and patient education guidelines. This is an exploratory-descriptive bibliographic research, the search for articles indexed for the research took place in October 2023 using the BIREME, LILACS and SCIELO databases. Trichomonas vaginalis infection can cause reproductive and especially perinatal morbidity. To combat this STI and the associated sequelae for both men and women, it is essential to understand the natural history of T. vaginalis and how to treat it. Recent randomized clinical trials have shown that a single 2g dose of oral metronidazole, preferred for many decades, is not as effective as the 7-day, twice-daily dose. Patient education is vital, professionals must educate the patient about the use of barrier contraception and adhere to treatment. In addition, the sexual partner must be sought out and treated, otherwise the cycle of transmission continues.