ABSTRACT
Chlamydia trachomatis was isolated from 120 of 504 women (24%) attending a VD clinic at Auckland Hospital. Epidemiological correlates indicated a sexual mode of transmission. The only symptom of significance was lower abdominal pain. Cervicitis was more common in women with chlamydia, especially if they were on hormonal contraceptives. Chlamydia was isolated more commonly in women with gonorrhoea (52%) and genital warts (37%). The high incidence of asymptomatic and unsuspected infection emphasizes the need for routine chlamydial culture in VD clinics.
Subject(s)
Chlamydia Infections/epidemiology , Chlamydia trachomatis/isolation & purification , Sexually Transmitted Diseases/epidemiology , Adolescent , Adult , Ambulatory Care Facilities , Chlamydia Infections/complications , Chlamydia Infections/drug therapy , Doxycycline/therapeutic use , Female , Humans , Middle Aged , New Zealand , Sexually Transmitted Diseases/complications , Sexually Transmitted Diseases/drug therapyABSTRACT
One hundred and five women attending Auckland sexually transmitted diseases clinic were reviewed because of positive cervical cultures for Chlamydia trachomatis. Their average age was 19 years, 70% were European; 28% were Maori. In half the patients the positive culture was a chance finding and therefore treatment was delayed resulting in six patients (12%) developing pelvic inflammatory disease. Eight out of nine male contacts, subsequently traced, had asymptomatic urethritis, one having epididymitis. One patient had no evidence of urethritis but was chlamydia positive. Associated pathogens present in the women were Neisseria gonorrhoeae (26%), Trichomonas vaginalis (6%), Gardnerella vaginalis (46%) and Candida albicans (19%). These findings support a need for routine chlamydial testing in female patients attending sexually transmitted diseases clinics and epidemiological treatment of female contacts of men with non-specific urethritis.
