Chlamydial genital infections: manifestations and management

Infection with Chlamydia trachomatis is an important cause of nongonococcal urethritis and cervicitis, and may be the most common sexually transmitted disease in the United States. Associated complications include epididymitis, proctitis, salpingitis, bartholinitis, arthritis, perihepatitis, and endocarditis. Perinatal transmission of infection may result in neonatal inclusion conjunctivitis and/or pneumonia of infancy. Chlamydial genital infection should be suspected in a patient (male or female) who presents with a gonorrhea-like syndrome but whose laboratory studies fail to demonstrate Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Such patients, together with their sex partners, should receive antichlamydial therapy; the uncomplicated genital infections respond well to oral treatment with tetracycline, erythromycin, and sulfonamide. The most important cause of treatment failure in nongonococcal urethritis is lack of simultaneous treatment of both patient and partner.