• Heather M Territo, Brian H Wrotniak, Christine Verni, and Gale R Burstein.
• University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, New York; John R. Oishei Children's Hospital, Buffalo, New York; Erie County Department of Health, Buffalo, New York. Electronic address: hterrito@buffalo.edu.
• J Emerg Med. 2022 Jan 1; 62 (1): 1-8.

BackgroundTrichomonas vaginalis (TV) is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Overall prevalence is reported to be 3.1%, with rates approaching 12.9-14.4% in high-risk female populations. Although there is a plethora of data on TV in the female population, the corresponding data for the male population are limited.ObjectiveOur aim was to determine the infection rate of TV in male patients seeking care for STIs in the emergency department (ED) and determine the symptoms associated with TV infection in male patients.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective study of male patients aged 13 years or older who presented to the ED for STI evaluation. Male patients included had nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) TV testing as part of standard STI evaluation.ResultsOf the 2137 male patients included, 95 (4.4%) were positive for TV. Male patients who tested positive were significantly older (mean age 38.9 years vs. 30.7 years for male patients who tested negative; p < 0.05). Black male patients were more likely than White male patients to be positive for TV (6.3% prevalence vs. 1.8%; p < 0.05). TV-positive male patients were more likely to have discharge, specifically clear penile discharge, on examination (p < 0.05), and were less likely to have testicular pain or testicular tenderness (p < 0.05). Higher rates of TV were seen in an urban (4.9%) compared with suburban ED (1.6%; p < 0.05).ConclusionsRates of TV in male patients who receive STI testing in the ED are similar to rates published previously for female patients. We found higher rates among older and African-American male patients. TV among male patients is prevalent and testing should continue when evaluating for STIs.Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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