Related Experiment Videos
Chlamydia trachomatis infection in asymptomatic men.
D Scott LaMontagne1, David N Fine, Jeanne M Marrazzo
1Center for Health Training, Seattle, Washington 98144, USA. slamontagne@jba-cht.com
American Journal of Preventive Medicine
|January 30, 2003
Summary
Screening sexually transmitted disease clinic attendees for Chlamydia trachomatis infection in men aged under 25, combined with symptom checks, can identify most cases and reduce unnecessary testing.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Infectious Disease
Background:
- The epidemiology of Chlamydia trachomatis in men, particularly asymptomatic individuals, requires further definition.
- While routine screening for women reduces Chlamydia trachomatis prevalence, its benefit in men is unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine Chlamydia trachomatis prevalence and risk factors among men attending STD clinics.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of targeted screening strategies for Chlamydia trachomatis in men.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study analyzed data from 43,094 men tested between 1997-1999 at 103 STD clinics in the Northwestern US.
- Prevalence was assessed by age, controlling for clinical signs of infection and sexual contact with an infected partner.
Main Results:
- Overall Chlamydia trachomatis prevalence was 10.3%, highest in men aged 18-19.
- Targeted screening of men under 25, or those with symptoms or known contact, would have detected 91% of infections while testing only 59% of men.
Conclusions:
- Selective screening combining age (<25 years), clinical signs, and partner STD status effectively identifies most Chlamydia trachomatis infections in men.
- This approach can significantly reduce the number of negative tests performed in STD clinics.