Diagnostic value of the QuickStripe™ chlamydia rapid test among high-risk women in Jakarta.

BACKGROUND: Difficulty in diagnosing Chlamydia trachomatis infections, including chlamydial cervicitis, is a notable challenge in managing sexually transmitted infections in Indonesia. Gram staining is usually done to make a presumptive diagnosis despite its low sensitivity and specificity. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is considered the gold standard, but it is costly, technically demanding, and difficult to be performed in low-resource settings. Thus, rapid point-of-care tests with high sensitivity and specificity are needed to diagnose chlamydial cervicitis. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included symptomatic and asymptomatic high-risk women in the Mulya Jaya Sex Workers Rehabilitation Center in June to July 2020. Endocervical swabs from each participant were taken for QuickStripe™ chlamydia rapid test (CRT), Gram staining, and real-time PCR. RESULTS: A total of 41 participants were enrolled. The sensitivity and specificity for QuickStripe™ CRT were 73.6% (95% CI: 48.80%-90.85%) and 81.82% (95% CI: 59.72%-94.81%). Positive and negative predictive values were 77.78% (95% CI: 58.09%-89.84%) and 78.05% (95% CI: 62.39%-89.44%). Proportion of chlamydial cervicitis in study participants based on real-time PCR was 46.3%. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that QuickStripe™ CRT can be recommended as an alternative diagnostic test for high-risk populations in Jakarta.

Heavy burden of intestinal parasite infections in Kalena Rongo village, a rural area in South West Sumba, eastern part of Indonesia: a cross sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) are one of the major public health problems, especially in the rural area of developing countries with low socio-economic status and poor sanitation. The study was aimed to determine the prevalence of IPIs among the inhabitants of a rural area in South West Sumba, eastern part of Indonesia. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was done in Kalena Rongo village, South West Sumba in April 2014. Stool samples were collected and examined for IPIs using direct smear method. RESULTS: Faecal samples were collected from 424 of 473 inhabitants of the village, age 2 months to 80 years. About 95.5 % (405/424) of the participants had any IPIs. The most prevalent parasites found were Ascaris lumbricoides 65.8 % (279/424), Trichuris trichiura 60.4 % (256/424), hookworms 53.5 % (227/424), Blastocystis hominis 34.4 % (146/424), Entamoeba histolytica 17.9 % (76/424), and Giardia lamblia 4.5 % (19/424). The villagers used no latrine and defecated in their backyard. Clean water sources were scarce and far from the village. CONCLUSIONS: In Kalena Rongo village, the rural area in eastern part of Indonesia, the finding of IPIs was conspicuous and therefore expressed the poor hygiene and absence of proper sanitation in the area. Integrated efforts, such as improving infrastructure to provide clean water source and educating the inhabitants for appropriate hygienic lifestyle are needed.