Utility of molecular biology techniques in the diagnosis of sexually transmitted diseases and genital infections

• Published in: Enfermedades infecciosas y microbiología clínica Vol. 26 Suppl 9; pp. 42 - 49
• Main Authors: Otero Guerra, Luis, Lepe Jiménez, José Antonio, Blanco Galán, María Antonia, Aznar Martín, Javier, Vázquez Valdés, Fernando
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Spain 01-07-2008
• Subjects: Animals; Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal - diagnosis; Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal - microbiology; Chlamydia trachomatis - genetics; Chlamydia trachomatis - isolation & purification; Condylomata Acuminata - diagnosis; Condylomata Acuminata - virology; Female; Genital Diseases, Female - diagnosis; Genital Diseases, Female - microbiology; Genital Diseases, Female - virology; Genital Diseases, Male - diagnosis; Genital Diseases, Male - microbiology; Genital Diseases, Male - virology; Granuloma Inguinale - diagnosis; Granuloma Inguinale - microbiology; Herpes Genitalis - diagnosis; Herpes Genitalis - virology; Humans; Male; Molecular Diagnostic Techniques; Mycoplasma - genetics; Mycoplasma - isolation & purification; Neisseria gonorrhoeae - genetics; Neisseria gonorrhoeae - isolation & purification; Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; Sexually Transmitted Diseases - diagnosis; Sexually Transmitted Diseases - microbiology; Sexually Transmitted Diseases - virology; Treponema pallidum - genetics; Treponema pallidum - isolation & purification; Trichomonas vaginalis - genetics; Trichomonas vaginalis - isolation & purification
• ISSN: 0213-005X

Historically, the diagnosis of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) has been difficult. The introduction of molecular biology techniques in microbiological diagnosis and their application to non-invasive samples has produced significant advances in the diagnosis of these diseases. Overall, detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae by molecular biology techniques provides a presumptive diagnosis and requires confirmation by culture in areas with a low prevalence. For Chlamydia trachomatis infections, these techniques are considered to be the most sensitive and specific procedures for mass screening studies, as well as for the diagnosis of symptomatic patients. Diagnosis of Mycoplasma genitalium infection by culture is very slow and consequently molecular techniques are the only procedures that can provide relevant diagnostic information. For Treponema pallidum, molecular techniques can provide direct benefits in the diagnosis of infection. Molecular techniques are not established for the routine diagnosis of donovanosis, but can be recommended when performed by experts. Molecular methods are advisable in Haemophilus ducreyi, because of the difficulties of culture and its low sensitivity. In genital herpes, molecular techniques have begun to be recommended for routine diagnosis and could soon become the technique of choice. For other genital infections, bacterial vaginosis, vulvovaginal candidosis and trichomoniasis, diagnosis by molecular methods is poorly established. With genital warts, techniques available for screening and genotyping of endocervical samples could be used for certain populations, but are not validated for this purpose.