POINT OF CARE RAPID DIAGNOSTIC SCREENING FOR CHLAMYDIA TRACHOMATIS AMONG SEXUALLY ACTIVE ASYMPTOMATIC FEMALES IN OKADA, SOUTH-SOUTH NIGERIA

Introduction: Chlamydia is transmitted through sexual contact with the penis, vagina, mouth, or anus of an infected partner. It can be transmitted or acquired even without ejaculation. It can also be transmitted perinatally from an untreated mother to her baby during childbirth, resulting in ophthalmia neonatorum or pneumonia in some exposed infants. Objective: The objective of this study was to screen for and determine the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis in asymptomatic sexually active women aged 16-33 years with the aid of a point of care rapid test kits within a resource-limited setting. Methods: In this study endocervical swab of a total of 170 female subjects between the ages of 16 to 33 were screened for Chlamydia trachomatis with two types of rapid test kits (Diaspot and Abon Rapid test kits for chlamydia). The subjects consisted of 140 study subjects and 30 control subjects attending the gynecological unit in Igbinedion University Teaching Hospital (IUTH) for other reasons, all subjects were random, sexually active, asymptomatic females and residents in Okada and its environs. Results: A total of 11 subjects tested positive to chlamydia (7.85 %). The samples that tested positive for Chlamydia were from patients that were unmarried and students. The age groups with the highest prevalence were 22-28 (5.71 %) and 16-21 (2 %). 23.63 % have had a previous history of STD and 26.47 % had awareness of chlamydia infection. The ages group (22 - 27) had the highest level of awareness. The prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis was consistent with their sexual lifestyles. Conclusion: Chlamydia screening should be a continuous public health intervention and screening programmes should ensure regular chlamydia screening for a high proportion of the target population. The methods for monitoring and ways to ensure standards are met should be adopted.

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Evaluation of Cortez Onestep Chlamydia RapicardTM Insta Test for the Detection of Chlamydia Trachomatis in Pregnant Women at Mbare Polyclinic in Harare, Zimbabwe

International Journal of MCH and AIDS (IJMA) ◽

10.21106/ijma.150 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. 19 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Stephen Stephen, MSc ◽

Chiwoneso Gwyneth Elizabeth Muchaneta-Kubara, PhD ◽

Marshall Wesley Munjoma, PhD ◽

Gibson Mandozana, PhD

Keyword(s):

Chlamydia Trachomatis ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Point Of Care ◽

Rapid Test ◽

Neonatal Infection ◽

Antenatal Clinic ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Chlamydia Infection ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Predictive Values

Background: Cervical chlamydia infection poses high risk of pregnancy complications and neonatal infection. Reference methods for the detection of chlamydia infection are not available for routine use in developing countries. Point-of-care (POC) tests can bridge this gap. This study evaluated Cortez Onestep Chlamydia RapicardTM insta test for the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis in pregnant women at Mbare Polyclinic and determined the prevalence of C. trachomatis.Methods: This was a cross sectional study in 242 pregnant women aged ≥18 years attending their first ANC visit at Mbare polyclinic in Harare, Zimbabwe. Data collection form was used to obtain demographic and predisposing factors to Chlamydia infection and two endocervical swabs were collected from each patient. One specimen was examined by the POC test at the clinic and the other by SDA method in the laboratory.Results: The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of the rapid kit were 71.4%, 99.6%, 90.9% and 98.3% respectively. Prevalence of C. trachomitis was 5.8% by SDA method.Conclusion and Global Health Implications: The kit’s sensitivity (71.4%) and specificity (99.6%) implies that the rapid test is an important test which needs further evaluations. The prevalence of C. trichomitis of 5.8% is comparable to studies done elsewhere in Africa.Key words: Chlamydia trachomatis • Antenatal Clinic • Point of Care Tests • Rapid Test • Cortez One Step Chlamydia TestCopyright © 2017 Stephen et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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3031 Facilitators and Barriers in Screening Sexually Active Female Adolescents for Chlamydia Infection in the Suburban Practice Setting

Journal of Clinical and Translational Science ◽

10.1017/cts.2019.327 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (s1) ◽

pp. 144-144

Author(s):

Ashaunta Tumblin Anderson ◽

Barbara Frankowski ◽

Paul J. Chung ◽

Judith Shaw

Keyword(s):

Best Practices ◽

Female Adolescents ◽

Chlamydia Infection ◽

Pediatric Care ◽

Chlamydia Screening ◽

Practice Setting ◽

Sexually Active ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Policy And Practice ◽

Pediatric Providers

OBJECTIVES/SPECIFIC AIMS: 1) Describe strategies pediatric providers perceive improve chlamydia screening of sexually active female adolescents (SA), and 2) describe barriers to regular screening of SA for chlamydia METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: Using qualitative methods, 14 general pediatric providers across 7 clinical sites in Vermont were interviewed to ascertain best practices and remaining challenges. Semi-structured interviews lasting 30-45 minutes were audiotaped and transcribed. Chlamydia screening rates provided by BCBS-VT were used to categorize participant responses across three performance tiers, data were coded, and themes identified within these tiers. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Facilitators: When asked to describe facilitators of chlamydia screening, providers in the top tier of chlamydia screening emphasized the importance of adequate insurance to cover the cost of testing. Providers in the middle performance tier cited use of pre-visit questionnaires, and those in the bottom performance tier identified no best practices. Other strategies included improving physician confidence and awareness, establishing practice- and individual-level routines, and providing strong leadership and communication of local screening rates. Barriers: Across the 3 performance tiers, the most common challenges to consistent chlamydia screening were threats to patient confidentiality, cost of the screening test, and requirement for patient disclosure of sexual activity. Less commonly, providers were concerned that adolescent patients were not reliable to obtain screens off-site, or fill treatment prescriptions without the help of a parent. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: The need for systematic, confidential, and inexpensive means for screening SA for chlamydia was highlighted in both the best practices and challenges described by providers of pediatric care in the suburban practice setting. Policy and practice interventions may target these needs to improve the reproductive health of female adolescents.

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Attitudes to chlamydia screening in general practice among Australian university students: a pilot study

Sexual Health ◽

10.1071/sh07097 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 5 (4) ◽

pp. 359 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Bernadette Zakher ◽

Melissa Kang

Keyword(s):

At Risk ◽

General Practice ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Young People ◽

University Students ◽

Risk Group ◽

Chlamydia Infection ◽

Chlamydia Screening ◽

Sexually Active ◽

Sexually Transmissible Infections

Background: Chlamydia screening of sexually active young people in general practice is key to the Australian National Sexually Transmissible Infections Strategy 2005–2008. Overseas research indicates that young people have positive attitudes towards opportunistic screening by a general practitioner (GP). This pilot study aims to investigate the attitudes of Australian university students towards chlamydia screening in primary care. Methods: Students (16–25 years) attending a class in one of three faculties at the University of Sydney participated by completing a questionnaire, which collected information about demographics, sexual history, chlamydia knowledge, attitudes towards and preferences for chlamydia screening. Results: One hundred and eighty-five students (78% female) returned questionnaires (participation rate 92%). Arts students were younger, more likely to be sexually active and to report having little or no knowledge of chlamydia. Males in the study were less likely to have had sex as a group compared to the group of females in the sample. Science students were also less likely to have had sex compared to their counterparts in other faculties. Seventy-six percent of students were comfortable with opportunistic testing for chlamydia by their GP. Reasons for not being comfortable included ‘don’t think I’m at risk’ (65%) and ‘not comfortable discussing sexual matters with my GP’ (38%). Although comfortable with GP-based testing, the likelihood of being tested in the upcoming year for most students was low, as was personal concern about chlamydia infection. Conclusions: Findings suggest that the most at risk group for chlamydia infection is not well educated about their risk of infection. The limited numbers of tests among sexually active individuals in this sample indicate that health practitioners are not screening this high-risk group for chlamydia infection.

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Prevalence estimates of genital Chlamydia trachomatis infection in Belgium: results from two cross-sectional studies

BMC Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1186/s12879-021-06646-y ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Natalie Fischer ◽

Ilse Peeters ◽

Sofieke Klamer ◽

Marion Montourcy ◽

Vicky Cuylaerts ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chlamydia Trachomatis ◽

Age Groups ◽

Chlamydia Infection ◽

Health Examination ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Heterogeneous Distribution ◽

Prevalence Studies ◽

Screening Programs ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Belgian Population

Abstract Background Chlamydia trachomatis (chlamydia) is the most diagnosed sexually transmitted infection in Belgium. Screening programs focus on young women, due to the implications of chronic asymptomatic infections for reproductive health. Thereby, the frequency of infections in men and older adults is underestimated. This study aimed to estimate the point-prevalence of chlamydia in the broader Belgian population, to inform evidence-based prevention and control strategies. Methods We conducted two cross-sectional prevalence studies of chlamydia infection in the population of Belgium aged 16–59 years, 2018–2020. In the CT1 study 12,000 representative individuals were randomly selected from the national register and invited by letter to collect a urine sample at home. The CT2 study used urine samples collected through the Belgian Health Examination Survey. Molecular detection of chlamydia DNA was performed using Xpert® or Abbott Real-Time CT/NG assays. Weighted estimated prevalence and 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated per gender and age groups of 16/18–29, 30–44 and 45–59 years, relative to the general Belgian population. Data collected on sociodemographic variables and sexual behavior were used to identify potential risk factors for chlamydia infection through calculation of the odds ratio (OR). Results The population-wide weighted estimated prevalence was 1.54% (95% CI 0.78–3) in CT1 and 1.76% (95% CI 0.63–4) in CT2. We observed no statistically significant difference between men and women or age groups. Civil relationship status (OR = 14.1 (95% CI 1.78–112), p < 0.01), sexual intercourse with a casual partner (OR = 6.31 (95% CI 1.66–24.1), p < 0.01) and > 3 sexual partners in the last 12 months (OR = 4.53 (95% CI 1.10–18.6), p = 0.02) were associated with higher relative risk for chlamydia infection. Conclusion Nationwide prevalence studies are relevant to assess the distribution of chlamydia and inform public health actions. The overall low prevalence and heterogeneous distribution of chlamydia in the general Belgian population needs to be considered for future strategies and potential harm of testing and treating asymptomatic individuals need to be taken into account. Effective case management should include appropriate treatment of symptomatic patients and partner notification, and prevention strategies should encourage behaviors such as condom use.

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The Prevalence of Chlamydia Trachomatis Infection Among Gynecological Outpatients Attendees at Central Basra Hospitals Using One-Step Chlamydia Test

10.52916/jogs204003 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-6

Author(s):

Ali Falih Al-Assadi

Keyword(s):

Chlamydia Trachomatis ◽

Prevalence Rate ◽

Significant Risk ◽

Rapid Test ◽

Chlamydia Infection ◽

P Value ◽

High Parity ◽

Chlamydia Trachomatis Infection ◽

One Step ◽

Child Hospital

Objective: The objective of this study is to estimate the prevalence rate of chlamydia infection among gynecological outpatients attendees at central Basra hospitals and assessing the predisposing factors and clinical features. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study that was conducted at central Basra hospitals during the period from 15 February 2018 to 10 May 2019. The distribution of cases according to the hospitals was 290 patients from Basra maternity and child hospital, 85 patients from Basra general hospital, 75 patients from AL Mawani hospital and 50 patients from AL Fayhaa hospital, this variation in the number depend on outpatient clinics attendees. participants were assessed according to a predesigned questionnaire and screening test for Chlamydia Trachomatis was done for all patients under study by using one-step chlamydia test (Chlamydia Rapid Test Device). Results: Among 500 patients 60% of them were from the age group 20-40 year, 62% were P2-4 and 89% from multipara and grand multipara, 60% were illiterate and 38% were having primary and secondary school, 61% from low socioeconomic class, nonusers of contraception were 23.7% and about 90% of patients were living at the central areas of Basra. Several factors have a statistically significant effect on the Chlamydia Trachomatis infection like being infertile p-value 0.000 or having high parity p-value 0.013 or non-barrier contraceptives users p-value 0.035. While other factors have no statistically significant effect like age p-value 0.506, socioeconomic state p-value 0.779, and level of education p-value 0.986. Conclusion: The prevalence rate of Chlamydia infection is low among the population in the central areas of Basra city compare to other countries. Being infertile or of high parity are among the significant risk factors. Barrier contraceptives significantly reduced the risk of infection and can be used to protect against the transmission of infection.

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SARS-CoV-2 antibody seroprevalence in Lebanon: findings from the first nationwide serosurvey

BMC Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1186/s12879-022-07031-z ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Abbas Hoballah ◽

Rana El Haidari ◽

Ghina Siblany ◽

Fadi Abdel Sater ◽

Samir Mansour ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Test Performance ◽

Point Of Care ◽

Vaccination Campaign ◽

Herd Immunity ◽

Age Groups ◽

Rapid Test ◽

Population Based ◽

P Value ◽

Cumulative Number ◽

Population Weight

Abstract Background Lebanon, a small country in the Middle East, remains severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Seroprevalence surveys of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies provide accurate estimates of SARS-CoV-2 infection and hence evaluate the extent of the pandemic. The present study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in Lebanon and to compare the estimated cumulative number of COVID-19 cases with the officially registered number of laboratory-confirmed cases up to January 15, 2021. Methods A nationwide population-based serosurvey study was conducted in Lebanon between December 7, 2020, and January 15, 2021, before the initiation of the national vaccination program. The nCOVID-19 IgG & IgM point-of-care (POCT) rapid test was used to detect the presence of anti-SARS-COV-2 immunoglobulin G (IgG) in the blood. Seroprevalence was estimated after weighting for sex, age, and area of residence and adjusting for the test performance. Results Of the 2058 participants, 329 were positive for IgG SARS-COV-2, resulting in a crude seroprevalence of 16.0% (95% CI 14.4–17.6). The weighed seroprevalence was 15.9% (95% CI of 14.4 and 17.4). After adjusting for test performance, the population weight-adjusted seroprevalence was 18.5% (95% CI 16.8–20.2). This estimate implies that 895,770 individuals of the general population were previously infected by COVID-19 up to January 15, 2021 in Lebanon. The overall estimated number of subjects with previous SARS-CoV-2 infection was three times higher than the officially reported cumulative number of confirmed cases. Seroprevalence was similar across age groups and sexes (p-value > 0.05). However, significant differences were revealed across governorates. Conclusions Our results suggest that the Lebanese population is still susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection and far from achieving herd immunity. These findings represent an important contribution to the surveillance of the COVID-19 pandemic in Lebanon and to the understanding of how this virus spreads. Continued surveillance for COVID-19 cases and maintaining effective preventive measures are recommended to control the epidemic spread in conjunction with a national vaccination campaign to achieve the desired level of herd immunity against COVID-19.

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The tip of the iceberg: opportunistic screening for Chlamydia trachomatis in asymptomatic patients attending a young people's health clinic reveals a high prevalence — a pilot study

Sexual Health ◽

10.1071/sh03007 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 1 (2) ◽

pp. 115 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Stephanie Jones ◽

Sue Barker ◽

Eugene Athan ◽

Stephen Graves

Keyword(s):

Nucleic Acid ◽

Chlamydia Trachomatis ◽

Young People ◽

Nucleic Acid Amplification Test ◽

Nucleic Acid Amplification ◽

Chlamydia Infection ◽

Health Clinic ◽

Opportunistic Screening ◽

Sexually Active ◽

High Prevalence

Objectives: We implemented an opportunistic screening programme for Chlamydia trachomatis amongst patients presenting to a young peoples’ health service in the city of Geelong, Australia, to define the prevalence of infection and to identify specific risk factors. Methods: Over a 7-month period sexually active patients attending the young peoples’ clinic were offered C. trachomatis screening by nucleic acid amplification test. There was 100% acceptance rate among those offered the test. Patient demographics, reason for presentation at the clinic and reported symptoms were documented by the clinicians and correlated with laboratory findings. Results: 163 patients between the ages of 12–25 were tested, nine males and 154 females. The prevalence of chlamydia infection was 5.8% and was highest (16.0%) among patients presenting for the morning after pill. Inhibition of the nucleic acid amplification test occurred in 11.0% of urine samples. All patients with inhibited tests were asked to provide a repeat sample for retesting, but only 50% complied with this request. The majority of repeat samples (88.9%) had no inhibitors present and yielded a negative result. There was no correlation between symptoms and a positive chlamydia result. Conclusions: Chlamydia infection is common in young people engaging in unsafe sexual practice and cannot be predicted by the presence of symptoms. The high prevalence of infection in Geelong would make screening cost effective in this age group. Ongoing population screening of sexually active young people should be encouraged in community health centres. Inhibition of the nucleic acid amplification test was common but repeat testing of urine a few days later usually gave satisfactory results.

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Chlamydia trachomatis among HIV infected patients using PCR technique

Janaki Medical College Journal of Medical Science ◽

10.3126/jmcjms.v1i2.9261 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 1 (2) ◽

pp. 3-10 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Y Shah ◽

A Shrestha ◽

N Adhikari ◽

KP Pant ◽

KS Khadka ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chlamydia Trachomatis ◽

Public Health Problem ◽

Chlamydia Infection ◽

Hiv Positive ◽

Sexually Active ◽

Medical Sciences ◽

Important Public Health Problem ◽

Sexually Transmitted ◽

Medical College ◽

Polymerase Chain

Background and Objectives: Chlamydia trachomatis is a sexually transmitted organism and an important public health problem in the sexually active age group. Limited studies are found regarding the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis in Nepal. Moreover, no study in Nepal reports the association of Chlamydia and HIV infection. The current study attempts to determine the burden of Chlamydia on HIV positive patients. Material and Methods: A total of 117 HIV positive patients visiting a HIV clinic in Kathmandu, were screened for Chlamydia infection. For this, Urine samples were collected and analyzed using the Multiplex polymerase chain reaction technique (MPCR) and Agarose gel electrophoresis. DNA isolation was performed using QIAamp DNA and Blood mini kit handbook protocol. Results: C. trachomatis was detected in 4.27% of the total 117 HIV patients. Out of positive cases 60% were males and 40% were females. However, Chlamydia is found more prevalent among females (6.89%) than in males (3.4%). Eighty percent of positive cases were asymptomatic. Conclusion: Chlamydia infection was found less commonly among studied patients and most of those cases were asymptomatic. So there is difficulty in timely detection of C. trachomatis and track the clinical sequel, which might be devastating. Hence, routine checkup is recommended for all suspected cases for timely management of the disease Janaki Medical College Journal of Medical Sciences (2013) Vol. 1 (2): 3-10 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jmcjms.v1i2.9261

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Denominators count: supplementing surveillance data for genital Chlamydia trachomatis infection with testing data, Norway, 2007 to 2013

Eurosurveillance ◽

10.2807/1560-7917.es.2015.20.36.30012 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 20 (36) ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Hilde Kløvstad ◽

Preben Aavitsland

Keyword(s):

Chlamydia Trachomatis ◽

Age Distribution ◽

Age Groups ◽

Surveillance Data ◽

Chlamydia Infection ◽

Age Group ◽

Aggregated Data ◽

Chlamydia Trachomatis Infection ◽

Testing Data ◽

Testing Coverage

As genital Chlamydia trachomatis (chlamydia) infection is often asymptomatic, surveillance of diagnosed cases is heavily influenced by the rate and distribution of testing. In 2007, we started supplementing case-based surveillance data from the Norwegian Surveillance System for Communicable Diseases (MSIS) with aggregated data on age group and sex of individuals tested. In this report, annual testing rates, diagnosis rates and proportion positive for chlamydia in Norway between 1990 and 2013 are presented. From 2007, rates are also stratified by age group and sex. The annual testing rate for chlamydia culminated in the early 1990s, with 8,035 tested per 100,000 population in 1991. It then declined to 5,312 per 100,000 in 2000 after which it remained relatively stable. Between 1990 and 2013 the annual rate of diagnosed cases increased 1.5 times from ca 300 to ca 450 per 100,000 population. The proportion of positive among the tested rose twofold from ca 4% in the 1990s to 8% in 2013. Data from 2007 to 2013 indicate that more women than men were tested (ratio: 2.56; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.56–2.58) and diagnosed (1.54; 95% CI: 1.52–1.56). Among tested individuals above 14 years-old, the proportion positive was higher in men than women for all age groups. Too many tests are performed in women aged 30 years and older, where 49 of 50 tests are negative. Testing coverage is low (15%) among 15 to 24 year-old males. Information on sex and age-distribution among the tested helps to interpret surveillance data and provides indications on how to improve targeting of testing for chlamydia. Regular prevalence surveys may address remaining limitations of surveillance.

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Preliminary results of a screening programme for Chlamydia in an asymptomatic young population

10.21203/rs.2.18488/v1 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Oriol Yuguero ◽

Jose Manuel Fernández-Armenteros ◽

Álvaro Vilela ◽

Jesus Aramburu ◽

Raquel Lain ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chlamydia Trachomatis ◽

Screening Programme ◽

Young Patients ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Chlamydia Infection ◽

Sexually Active ◽

Young Population ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Barrier Methods ◽

Chlamydia Trachomatis Infection

Abstract Introduction Chlamydia trachomatis infection has increased in recent years, reaching 127 million cases in 2016. Possible complications, especially among women, require intervention for early detection. The objective of our study was to determine the prevalence of Chlamydia infection in a young, sexually active, asymptomatic population.Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among young patients aged 18 to 25 years attending the emergency room for any reason. The presence of Chlamydia trachomatis and other STIs in urine was determined.Results Twenty-two patients enrolled in the screening (7.4%) were diagnosed with Chlamydia. A further nine patients among the partners of those affected were detected. Young people with two or more sexual partners in the last month and those suffering from infection by ureaplasma were at greater risk of infection by Chlamydia. Up to 50% of participants do not use barrier methodsConclusion The prevalence of infection by Chlamydia in the asymptomatic young population is higher than expected. The scarce use of barrier methods among this population may be one of the causes of this increase and one of the targets to work on in order to reduce the prevalence of the infection.

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