ABSTRACT Background: Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) can be caused by viruses, bacteria, and parasites. The World Health Organization estimated more than 300 million new global cases of curable STIs among individuals of reproductive age. Infection by Trichomonas vaginalis is one of the most prevalent curable STL Despite the current treatments available, the diagnosis of T. vaginalis can be difficult, and the resistance to the treatment increased concern for the healthcare system. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with Trichomonas vaginalis infection among women of reproductive age attending community-based services for cervical screening. Patients and methods: A total of 1477 reproductive-aged women attending 18 Primary Health Care Units in Botucatu, Brazil, from September to October 2012, were enrolled. A structured questionnaire was used for individual face-to-face interviews for obtaining data on sociodemographic, gynecologic, and obstetrics history, sexual and hygiene practices, among others. Cervicovaginal samples were obtained for detection of T. vaginalis by culture using Diamond's medium and microscopic vaginal microbiota classification according to Nugent. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was carried out to estimate Odds Ratios (OR) and 95% Confidence Intervals (95% CI) for the association between participants’ sociodemographic, behavioral factors, and clinical factors with T. vaginalis infection. Results: Median age of study participants was 33 years (ranging from 18 to 50). The overall prevalence of T. vaginalis infection was 1.3% (n = 20). Several factors were independently associated with T. vaginalis infection, such as self-reporting as black or Pardo for ethnicity (OR = 2.70; 95% CI 1.03–7.08), smoking (OR=3.18; 95% CI 1.23–8.24) and having bacterial vaginosis (OR = 4.01; 95%CI = 1.55–10.38) upon enrollment. A protective effect of higher educational level (having high school degree) was observed (OR = 0.16; 95% CI 0.05–0.53). Conclusions: Our data suggest that screening programs to correctly detect T. vaginalis infection can be helpful to guide prevention strategies to the community. Our study supports an association between abnormal vaginal microbiota and T. vaginalis infection.

OBJETIVOS: avaliar o grau de aderências pélvicas em função do tempo e da utilização de diferentes substâncias empregadas na sua profilaxia. MATERIAL E MÉTODOS: estudo prospectivo com 120 ratas Wistar, albinas, virgens, 3 a 4 meses de idade, pesando aproximadamente 250 gramas, divididas aleatoriamente em 10 grupos de 12 animais cada: controle, sem lesão; lesões e sem tratamento; lesões + solução fisiológica 0,9%; lesões + Ringer-lactato; lesões + dextrano 70 a 32%; lesões + Ringer-lactato/heparina; lesões + Ringer-lactato/dexametasona; lesões + Ringer-lactato/hidrocortisona/dexametasona/ampicilina; lesões + Ringer-lactato/albumina e lesões + carboximetilcelulose 1%. Após anestesiados os animais, realizaram-se dois tipos de lesões nos cornos uterinos (escarificação e eletrocauterização), seguidos de tratamento profilático intraperitoneal com as soluções citadas. No 7º, 14º e 28º dia pós-operatório, momentos M1, M2 e M3, respectivamente, avaliaram-se quatro ratas de cada grupo quanto à presença de aderências. Os métodos empregados na quantificação das aderências encontradas basearam-se na classificação de Cohen, com escores variando de 0 a 4+ de acordo com a quantidade, características e localização das aderências. Foram usadas provas paramétricas para análise da variância e Kruskal-Wallis. RESULTADOS: os melhores tratamentos para prevenção de aderência pélvica em ratas foram: Ringer-lactato/dexametasona (predomínio do escore 1+), dextrano 70 a 32% (predomínio do escore 2+) e Ringer-lactato/hidrocortisona/dexametasona/ampicilina (predomínio do escore 2+). O período pós-operatório, representado pelo momento M3, e a técnica cirúrgica, predominantemente com escore 0, influíram na adesiólise e manutenção de aderências pélvicas em ratas. CONCLUSÕES: a prevenção de aderências pélvicas em ratas inicia-se no processo cirúrgico de baixo dano tecidual; o uso de substâncias profiláticas (soluções) tem eficácia variada, sendo que algumas mostraram-se mais eficazes que outras.

PURPOSE: to evaluate the degree of pelvic adhesions in function of time and the different substances used in its prophylaxis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: prospective study with 120 female, albino, virgin Wistar rats, 3 to 4 months of age, weighing approximately 250 g, randomly divided into 10 groups of 12 animals each: control, without lesion; lesions and without treatment; lesions + 0.9% physiologic saline, lesions + Ringer lactate; lesions + 32% dextran 70; lesions + Ringer lactate/heparin; lesions + Ringer lactate/dexamethasone; lesions + Ringer lactate/hydrocortisone/dexamethasone/ampicillin; lesions + Ringer lactate/albumin, and lesions + 1% carboxymethylcellulose. The animals were anesthetized and two types of lesions (scarification and electrocauterization) were performed in the uterine horns, followed by treatment with the solutions, intraperitoneally, to prevent pelvic adhesions. On the 7th, 14th and 28th postoperative days, moments M1, M2 and M3, respectively, the presence of adhesions was evaluated in 4 rats of each group. The methods applied to the quantification of the adhesions were based on Cohen's classification, with scores varying from 0 to 4+ according to the amount, characteristics and location of the adhesions. Statistical analysis was performed by parametric tests for analysis of variance and the Kruskal-Wallis test. RESULTS: the best treatments for prevention of pelvic adhesions in female rats were Ringer lactate/dexamethasone (score 1+ prevalence), 32% dextran 70 to (score 2+ prevalence) and Ringer lactate/hydrocortisone/dexamethasone/ampicillin (score 2+ prevalence). The postoperative period, represented by moment M3, and the surgical technique, predominantly with score 0, influenced adhesiolysis and maintenance of pelvic adhesions in female rats. CONCLUSIONS: the prevention of pelvic adhesions in female rats begins with the surgical process at a smaller extent of tissue damage. The use of prophylactic substances (solutions) had a varied effectiveness, since some were more efficient than others.