Dados do Trabalho

Título

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the percentage of positive urine tests for Trichomonas vaginalis

Introdução

Trichomoniasis is a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) caused by the protozoan Trichomonas vaginalis. It presents as an asymptomatic infection; however, evidence has demonstrated an association with other important STIs of viral origin, generating a major impact on the health of the affected population. During the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, a reduction in several STIs was observed due to social isolation. Nevertheless, with the return of social activities, the number of diagnosed STIs increased significantly.

Objetivo (s)

In this context, the objective of the present study is to describe the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the number of positive urine tests for T. vaginalis in a population treated in an outpatient service of a teaching hospital from Brazil.

Material e Métodos

This retrospective study evaluated information contained in medical records in the periods before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic (January 2019 to July 2023). The present study was approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee of the University Hospital of the Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora (protocol n. 5.841.810).

Resultados e Conclusão

Preliminay results showed the presence of T. vaginalis was identified in 0.22% (41/18,339) of the urine samples analyzed during the studied period. Among the 37 infected individuals, 85% were women and 78% were between 18 and 59 years old. It is noteworthy that 51.4% of positive cases did not receive specific treatment and that only 16.2% of sexual partners were treated. The percentage of number of positive urine tests before the COVID-19 pandemic (2019) was 0.092% (4/4,366). Despite the social isolation measures adopted in 2020, there was a trend to increase in the number of positive urine tests in the studied population, with 0.180%. In 2021 and 2022 there was an increase in positive urine tests (0.305% and 0.331%, respectively), coinciding with the end of the period of social isolation in the country. Furthermore, there was a subsequent downward trend in 2023 (0.181%) with the end of the health emergency declared by the World Health Organization. The social isolation measures adopted to prevent the transmission of SARS-Cov-2 appear not to have reduced the number of cases of trichomoniasis in the studied population. Moreover, the relaxation of these measures allowed a significant increase in the number of cases of trichomoniasis.

Palavras Chave

trichomoniasis; Epidemiology; COVID-19 pandemic