The prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among attendees of Lead City University Medical Centre in Ibadan was studied. Blood, high vaginal swabs (HVS) and Endocervical swab (ECS) samples were aseptically collected from two hundred (200) subjects attending the Medical Centre, and investigated for various etiologic agents of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) including Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Candida albicans, Trichomonas vaginalis, Gardnerella vaginalis (Bacterial vaginosis), Treponema pallidum (Syphilis), Hepatitis B surface Antigen (HBsAg), Human immunodeficiency virus and Chlamydiae species, using standard microbiological methods. The HVS and the ECS swabs were analyzed using direct wet smear, Gram-stained smear and culture techniques while blood samples were examined serologically using standard proprietory reagents. Out of the 200 samples examined, 195(97.5%) were infected with various aetiologic agents and 5 (2.5%) had growth of Staphylococcus aureus. In these patients, Candida albicans had the highest percentage of infections 163(81.5%). This was followed by Gardnerella vaginalis (Bacterial vaginosis) 23(11.5%), Trichomonas vaginalis, 4(2.0%), Treponema pallidum (Syphilis) 3(1.5%) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae 2(1.0%). Others were Staphylococcus aureus [5(2.5%)]. However, Chlamydia trachomatis, HBsAg, HCV and HIV were not detected. The prevalent rates of infections were inversely associated with increase in age, sex and marital status. Increased routine screening for STIs is essential in preventing disease transmission and adverse outcomes among these groups.
