Terry's case: A Youth at Risk

Correct: The answer is 1 (A, B, F, G).

Terry should be screened for:

• N. gonorrhoeae (gonorrhea)
• C. trachomatis (chlamydia)
• T. pallidum (syphilis)
• Hepatitis B virus
• HIV

Because Terry is an injection drug user he should also be screened for hepatitis C.

M. hominis and U. urealyticum should not be checked during STI screening. They are usually colonizers, and a positive result is not necessarily indicative of infection.

Enteric bacterial pathogens and parasites are checked only if enteric symptoms are present.

In general, screening for hepatitis A virus (HAV) is not useful. It is used for diagnostic purposes when hepatitis is confirmed.

*Note: HAV and enteric organisms may be transmitted by "rimming". Rimming should be considered and asked about if a person at risk complains of gastrointestinal symptoms suggestive of parasitic infections or HAV.

Sources available for HIV pre- and post-test counselling are:

1. Canadian STD Guidelines (1998)
2. Counselling guidelines for HIV testing (CMA)

For more information on HIV, visit the Public Health Agency of Canada's Centre for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control.