International Journal of STD & AIDS > Volume 20, Number 3 > Pp. 188-192

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Evans, C Articles by Kinghorn, G Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Social Bookmarking                      What's this?

Original research articles

A retrospective study of recurrent chlamydia infection in men and women: is there a role for targeted screening for those at risk?

C Evans MBChB MRCP  ^*, C Das MBChB MRCGP  and G Kinghorn MD FRCP 

^* Department of Infection and Inflammation, Sheffield Medical School, Beech Hill Road, Sheffield S10 2RX; General Practitioner, Sheffield; Communicable Diseases Directorate, Department of GenitoUrinary Medicine, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, UK

Correspondence to: Dr Cariad Evans Email: cariadmevans{at}hotmail.com

Chalmydia trachomatis remains the commonest sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the UK. This study identifies those at risk of recurrent infection (RI) attending a central genitourinary clinic, time to subsequent reinfection and duration of at-risk behaviour for the consideration of targeted chlamydia screening. From 1995 to 2005, a total of 14,011 patients' were diagnosed with chlamydia and 1743 (12.4%) had RI, classified as a repeat infection greater than three months after initial diagnosis. Individual risk factors for both sexes include young age <25, two or more partners and failure to attend for test of cure (TOC) and previous STI. Men of non-White ethnicity, symptoms and those self-referred were also at risk. Combined risk factors for both sexes were non-White ethnicity, symptoms, young age, previous STI and two or more partners. Attendance for TOC considerably reduced RI rates in men (odds ratio [OR] = 0.549; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.359–0.840). Mean time to first and last reinfection in men was 1.91 and 2.49 years, in women 1.76 and 1.92 years. One in eight individuals with chlamydia infection are at risk of RI, the majority of which will occur within two years of initial presentation. These individuals have identifiable risk factors facilitating targeted re-screening, enhanced follow-up and support for behavioural change.

Key Words: Chlamydia trachomatis • recurrent chlamydia infection • targeted screening

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?