Microbiology Interview Question:

You see a 20-year old female for complaints of vaginal itching, discharge, pain with intercourse and discomfort with urination. She has had 3 different sexual partners over the past 2 years. As part of your workup, you do a wet mount of vaginal secretions and see a flagellated organism about the size of a white blood cell with twitching motility that makes you think of Trichomonas vaginalis. Which statement is false regarding Trichomonas?

Submitted by: Administrator

* A. Men are most likely asymptomatic but efficient transmitters of this organism
* B. The cyst form of the life cycle is the most common method of transmission
* C. Simultaneous treatment of the patient and her sexual contacts will decrease the chance of recurrences
* D. In severe cases the regional mucosa may be red with petechial lesions and the cervix has been described as a "strawberry cervix"
* E. Patients found to have Trichomonas should be evaluated for other venereal transmitted diseases

Correct Answer: B
Submitted by: Administrator