About this Research Topic

Background

Reproductive Tract Infections (RTIs) in women present challenges in diagnosis, management, and prevention. Age, marital, and fertility status, socio-economic standard, and co-morbidities affect the nature and presentation of these infections. RTIs have diverse presentations and risks. For example, tuberculosis and chlamydial infections may lead to infertility, whilst others can lead to foetal loss and Human Papillomavirus may cause cervical cancer. These infections may be asymptomatic or associated with myriad clinical manifestations.

Comorbidities such as diabetes, HIV, and autoimmune diseases can affect the spectrum of the disease. Causative organisms can vary: from bacteria, fungi, viruses, to parasites. Many re-emerging infections like syphilis and resistant gonorrhoea are adding to the complexity of the problem. Although some infections are easily diagnosed by microscopy and culture, others require sophisticated techniques. RTIs and women’s health are intricately intertwined, and preventative strategies are best devised whilst keeping in mind the method of acquisition. Increasing awareness amongst women, hygiene, and vaccines are cornerstones to prevention.

Reproductive tract infections (RTIs) in women are a cause of global concern. They include sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, chancroid, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and endogenous infections, which are caused by overgrowth of organisms normally present in the genital tract of healthy women, such as bacterial vaginosis or vulvovaginal candidiasis. RTIs are often neglected in women because they are often asymptomatic, or the symptoms are not easily recognizable. These infections and their sequelae are especially urgent public health problems in resource-poor areas around the world. Increasing antimicrobial resistance is making it difficult to treat some of these infections, which were easily treatable in the past. Left untreated, RTIs can result in chronic morbidity, infertility, and even neoplasia.

This Research Topic is a platform to bring various forms of RTIs in women to light and to spread awareness in today’s context of “point-of care” diagnosis, antimicrobial resistance, re-emerging infections and trends in the field of preventative vaccines. Essentially, it will focus on:

• Increasing awareness about the spectrum of infections affecting the female reproductive tract.
• Highlighting the implications of these infections on women’s health.
• Understanding the diagnostic modalities available for RTIs.
• Exploring new approaches for the management of RTIs.
• Studying the various methodologies available for prevention of these infections.

Perspectives, Mini-Reviews, and Original Research articles addressing any of the below mentioned issues will be welcomed:
• The burden of disease caused by RTIs amongst women and their impact on women’s health.
• The spectrum of clinical presentations encountered in association with RTI including unusual presentations.
• The interactions between reproductive tract infections and child survival, safe motherhood.
• The relative prevalence of viral, bacterial, fungal and parasitic RTIs and their sequelae.
• The relative sensitivity and specificity of available diagnostic modalities.
• The antibiotic sensitivity spectrum of the common pathogens causing RTIs.
• Therapeutic interventions used for the common infections including novel approaches.
• Methodology to increase awareness of RTIs so that more women come forward for treatment.
• Evaluation of vaccines available for RTIs.

Keywords: female reproductive health, reproductive tract infections, STIs, women's health, female reproductive system

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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