Utility and Acceptability of a Molecular Test in the Management of Sexually Transmitted Diseases in Uganda

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are a major cause of long-term disability. Urethral discharge syndrome (UDS), abnormal vaginal discharge (AVD) and genital ulcer disease (GUD) are very common syndromes in low- and middle-income countries where, due to lack of resources, these syndromes are managed according to a syndromic approach. Appropriate STD diagnosis and treatment are crucial to prevent the transmission and sequelae. No randomized trials have been conducted so far to evaluate clinical usefulness and acceptability of microbiological diagnosis using NAAT in comparison with syndromic approach.

The aims of the study is to evaluate the clinical usefulness of a NAAT in terms of appropriateness of therapy, clinical and microbiological outcomes, diagnostic accuracy, and acceptability in comparison with syndromic approach and to explore whether this test could replace the syndromic approach in the management of STDs at a National Referral Hospital in Uganda. At last, to estimate the actual prevalence of causative agents of STDs in this setting.

In summary final aim is that the results could inform diagnostic guidelines since they may suggest an update of the current recommendations. Investigators speculate that the change in approach would allow a significant improvement in terms of appropriateness of therapy, reduction of the collateral damage, toxicity, and pharmacoeconomics costs.

This is an operational, randomized, open-label trial. Patients will be randomized (using block computerized method) into two Arms ("A" or "B"). Patients randomized to Arm "A" will be subjected to a microbiological test (either swabs or urine testing by NAAT). After having obtained the result of the molecular test, patients will be prescribed a targeted treatment. Patients randomized to Arm "B" will be subjected to a molecular test, but they will be treated according to the current guidelines and the best practice using the clinical syndromic approach. So, patients randomized to Arm "B" and their physician also will be blinded to the results of the molecular test. All the patients randomized to Arm "A" or to Arm "B" will be asked to return after two-three weeks for a control visit. The NAAT test will be performed with Bosch Vivalytic Sexually Transmitted Infection test.

STUDY POPULATION Adults aged 18 years and above presenting with signs and symptoms of STDs at the Mulago Hospital STDs clinic during the study period, who provide written consent to the participation to the study and are diagnosed with UDS, AVD and GUD. Persons belonging to special populations (i.e., female sex workers, MSM) will be analyzed separately.

SAMPLE SIZE Eighty-seven patients (rounded to 90) in each treatment arm are necessary for demonstrating a difference of 0.20 by means of the Fisher's exact test carried out at a significance level of 0.05 (two tailed). The sample size will be increased to 110 patients in each treatment arm for allowing a drop- out rate of about 20%.

SAMPLING METHOD Two groups will be created by a random process and a blinded intervention. The intended sample will be composed by all sequential patients presenting with signs or symptoms suggestive for STDs at the time of screening for inclusion into the trial. Only patients who will satisfy the inclusion and exclusion criteria will be randomized after signing the informed consent. The randomization process will be carried out according to a complete block model. In addition, randomization will be stratified by gender. Any efforts will be put into improving the internal and external validity of the trial.

Data will be collected in an anonymized form: an Identification number will be assigned to each patients. Data will be analyzed by statistical team which will be led by a senior statistician

Inclusion criteria

• Adult males and females with UDS, AVD and GUD diagnosed as per the current National STD Management Guidelines 201616, who have given informed, written, and signed consent.

Exclusion criteria

• All patients presenting with UDS, AVD and GUD who decline informed and written consent.

• All patients living farther than a 20 km radius from Mulago National Referral Hospital
• All patients presenting with any syndromes not listed above.
• Female patients in their menstrual period.
• Pregnant patients.
• Patients with a previous infection presenting with recurrence or relapse.