[Screening lab tests of Chlamydia trachomatis. Do they show declining trend of the infections?]

A study on the frequency of Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) urogenital infection comprised 2393 patients (1,197 women and 1,196 men), aged 18-69 years. Urethral and cervical specimens were tested using immunofluorescent (DFA) for symptomatic and immunoenzymatic techniques (EIA, IMx, Vidas-ELFA) for asymptomatic patients. Basing on the tests results (1993-1996) chlamydiosis was diagnosed in 323 (13.5%) cases, 169 (14.1%) women and 154 (12.8%) men, aged 20-40 yrs. The percentage of positive results determined by EIA, IMx or Vidas were similar (8.2-4.2%, 3.0-2.0%, 5.4-3.4%, respectively) but lower than that by DFA test (38.9-13.2%). Over the last few years the number of patients screened for Ct, as well as the incidence of Ct infection, has decreased (5.6% in 1996). The data were compared to those from 1986-1992.