Discordant prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis in asymptomatic couples screened by two screening approaches.

This study was carried out to observe the effect of screening both members of an asymptomatic couple for Chlamydia trachomatis. First void urine samples were collected from 105 women and their male sex partners. Women were recruited for screening at a sexual health clinical setting (age 16-25 years), and home sampling screening options were used for men. Using PCR we detected seven positive C. trachomatis samples in women (6.6%) and five in men (4.6%). The concordant infection rate was 33% (3/9 couples). Routine urine screening of the female partner might result in substantial underestimation of the C. trachomatis prevalence within the couple, where perhaps 56% of the couples where at least one partner tested positive would remain undiagnosed. Screening both partners compared with women- or men-only screening increased the detection rate of positive couples. Furthermore, the use of alternative screening approaches in different clinical settings increases testing in at risk populations.

Sexual behaviour of inmates with Chlamydia trachomatis infection in the prisons of Catalonia, Spain.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and high risk factors for acquisition in preventive prisoners in Catalonia. METHODS: Cross-sectional study of a convenience sample of 478 prisoners aged between 18 and 35 years was analysed using real-time polymerase chain reaction. A standardized questionnaire was used to collect behavioural data. Significant differences were analysed in the descriptive study using Pearson's χ(2). The association between CT and its determinants was analysed using the Mantel-Haenszel test and a multivariate logistic regression model. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of CT was 5.4%. The independent risk factors for infection by CT were as follows: foreign origin, having had concurrent sexual partners, and alcohol consumption. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study performed in prisons of Catalonia that shows the prevalence of CT in young prisoners. The high mobility of young detainees could explain the similarity in prevalence obtained about young people in Catalonia. Systematic monitoring of CT infection in young preventive prisoners is important in order to prevent further problems in themselves and in the general population, since they become a 'bridge population' in sexually transmissible infection spreading.

[Prevalence and determining factors of acquiring C. trachomatis infection among adolescents and young adults in Catalonia]. / Prevalencia de la infección por C. trachomatis y N. gonhorroeae y determinantes para su adquisición en jóvenes y adultos-jóvenes en Cataluña.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (N. gonhorroeae) infections and the risk factors for acquiring them in individuals under 35 years-old attending sexual health clinics in Barcelona province in 2006. METHODS: Cross-sectional study of a convenience sample of 500 adolescents and young adults aged between 16 and 35 years. A total of 423 samples were analysed using real-time PCR. A standardised questionnaire was used to collect clinical, epidemiological, and behavioural data on the participants. Significant differences were analysed in the descriptive study using Pearson's ((2). The association between C. trachomatis infection and its determining factors was analysed using the Mantel-Haenszel test and a multivariate logistic regression model. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of C. trachomatis was 4%, and was significantly higher in those under 25 years of age. The overall prevalence of N. gonhorroeae was 0.2%. The independent risk factors for infection by C. trachomatis were as follows: foreign origin (OR: 3.74; CI 95%: 1.10-12.72), having had a sexual partner in the last 3 months (OR 3.91; CI 95%: 1.30-11.81), and tobacco use the last 12 months (OR: 4.99; CI 95%: 1.34-18.59). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study performed in Catalonia that shows high prevalence of C. trachomatis in young people, thus confirming trends in the rest of Europe. Systematic monitoring of C. trachomatis infection in sentinel populations will provide valid information allowing us to assess the relevance of proposing targeted screening programs in our setting.

Prevalencia de la infección por C. trachomatis y N. gonhorroeae y determinantes para su adquisición en jóvenes y adultos-jóvenes en Cataluña / Prevalence and determining factors of acquiring C. trachomatis infection among adolescents and young adults in Catalonia

Objetivo Determinar la prevalencia de Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis) y Neisseria gonhorroeae (N. gonhorroeae) y los factores de riesgo para su adquisición en menores de 35 años, usuarios de centros de atención a la salud sexual de la provincia de Barcelona durante el año 2007.MètodosEstudio transversal de una muestra oportunista de 500 jóvenes y adultos-jóvenes de 16-35 años. Un total de 397 muestras endocervicales y 26 de orina fueron analizadas mediante PCR en tiempo real. Se utilizó un cuestionario estandarizado para recoger información clínica, epidemiológica y conductual. Se analizaron las diferencias significativas en el análisis descriptivo mediante Pearson's χ2 o Fisher's exact test. La asociación entre la infección por C. trachomatis y sus determinantes fueron examinados mediante el test Mantel-Haenszel y un modelo de regresión logística multivariante. Se calcularon las Odds ratio y los intervalos de confianza al 95%.ResultadosLa prevalencia global de C. trachomatis fue del 4%, significativamente más elevada en el grupo de menores de 25 años. La prevalencia de N. gonhorroeae fue del 0,2%. Los factores de riesgo independientes para la infección de C. trachomatis fueron: origen extranjero (OR: 3,74; IC 95%: 1,10-12,72), tener nueva pareja sexual < 3 meses (OR 3,91, IC 95%: 1,30-11,81) y el consumo de tabaco<12 meses (OR: 4,99, IC 95%: 1,34-18,59).Conclusiones Este es el primer estudio realizado en Cataluña, que muestra elevadas prevalencias de C. trachomatis en jóvenes, y que reafirma las tendencias encontradas en Europa. Sistematizar la monitorización de la infección por C. trachomatis en poblaciones centinela aportará información válida para valorar la pertinencia de proponer programas de cribado en nuestro entorno (AU)

Objective To determine the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (N. gonhorroeae) infections and the risk factors for acquiring them in individuals under 35 years-old attending sexual health clinics in Barcelona province in 2006.MethodsCross-sectional study of a convenience sample of 500 adolescents and young adults aged between 16 and 35 years. A total of 423 samples were analysed using real-time PCR. A standardised questionnaire was used to collect clinical, epidemiological, and behavioural data on the participants. Significant differences were analysed in the descriptive study using Pearson's (2. The association between C. trachomatis infection and its determining factors was analysed using the Mantel-Haenszel test and a multivariate logistic regression model. Results The overall prevalence of C. trachomatis was 4%, and was significantly higher in those under 25 years of age. The overall prevalence of N. gonhorroeae was 0.2%. The independent risk factors for infection by C. trachomatis were as follows: foreign origin (OR: 3.74; CI 95%: 1.10-12.72), having had a sexual partner in the last 3 months (OR 3.91; CI 95%: 1.30-11.81), and tobacco use the last 12 months (OR: 4.99; CI 95%: 1.34-18.59).Conclusions This is the first study performed in Catalonia that shows high prevalence of C. trachomatis in young people, thus confirming trends in the rest of Europe. Systematic monitoring of C. trachomatis infection in sentinel populations will provide valid information allowing us to assess the relevance of proposing targeted screening programs in our setting (AU)