Following these results the Ministry of Health of Morocco replaced ciprofloxacin and introduced ceftriaxone 250 mg as a single dose in the treatment of gonococcal infections. Using funds from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (the Global Fund), a surveillance programme was set up for antimicrobial resistance testing in N gonorrhoeae.

trimester or on the date of delivery among all pregnant women, especially among pregnant women without syphilis testing before the third trimester, leaves a critical gap in the prevention of congenital syphilis infection. Interventions should be developed to increase prenatal syphilis testing as recommended.

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IntroductionBacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most common cause of vaginal discharge in women of reproductive age throughout the world. In Morocco, the women consulting for vaginal discharge are systematically treated by the syndromic approach. This study’s goal is to investigate this infection in Moroccan women presenting a recurrent discharge even after treatment.MethodsRetrospective study carried out by detailed analysis of case records in the STIs laboratory in the National Institute of Hygiene for a period of 4 years, between January 2010 and December 2015. 2402 female’s patients presenting a vaginal discharge were received in the laboratory for the vaginal fluid collections and analysis. Among these women, 305 were pregnant. Cultures were performed for fungal microorganisms. BV diagnosis was based on the presence of clue cells, pH >4.5, and absence of Lactobacilli. Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) identification was performed by culture and by the wet preparation microscopy.ResultsAll Women received are married and sexually active. The median of age was 34 years (18–50 years). Among the 2402 women registered, 17.7% had BV, 42% had Candida and 4.4% had TV infection. Among the 305 pregnant women, 6.5% had BV, 38.7% had Candida and 1% had TV infection. No infection with Neisseria gonorrhoeae was found in all the women received. In most of cases, strong vaginal discharges with a fishy smell were linked to BV.ConclusionOur results revealed that the infection due to the candida is the most common cause of the vaginal discharge followed by BV and the TV in both pregnant and sexually active women. In Morocco, even if the BV is not the first aetiology that causes vaginal discharge but due of the complications that a recurrent BV infection can cause in women especially pregnant women, its management must be effective in gynecologic and obstetric services and also in the campaigns against STIs and HIV that are regularly conducted at the national level.

IntroductionSyphilis is a common but curable sexually transmitted infection (STI). Nevertheless the limited access to medical care among Female Sex Workers (FSWs) can reduce individual treatment, thereby indirectly facilitating transmission within the population. There is increased risk of HIV acquisition and transmission of HIV because of ulcerative syphilis. This study aimed to provide, for the first time using response driven sampling (RDS), baseline information on the prevalence and treatment rate of syphilis among FSWs in Morocco.MethodsThis study was conducted from December 2011 to January 2012 in four Moroccan regions: Agadir, Rabat, Fes and Tangier. A total of 1447 FSWs participants were recruited using RDS. All participants completed an anonymous questionnaire on sex behavioural information and were tested for syphilis by using a combination of two tests; a non treponemal test (venereal diseases research laboratory VDRL) and treponemal test (treponema pallidum haemmaglutination assay: TPHA).ResultsAmong1447 FSWs (17.68%) were reactive for syphilis with 21.4% in Agadir, 18.8% in Fes, 13.9% in Rabat and 13.3% in Tangier. Only 25.54% of FSWs reported being tested for HIV in the past 12 months and 4% ever been tested for HIV, 50.25% reported using a condom at last transactional sex.ConclusionThe prevalence of syphilis was high among female sex workers and majority of them were treated for syphilis. Achieving good treatment coverage therefore will help not only to reduce syphilis incidence but also HIV disease burden in the high risk population and general population since the relationship between syphilis and HIV is well established. This study has shown syphilis continues to be highly prevalent among female sex workers and targeted intervention programs need to focus on curable STI like syphilis.