CHLAMYDIA SCREENING

Screening for Chlamydia trachomatis in asymptomatic women attending outpatient clinics in a large maternity hospital in Dublin, Ireland

H M McMillan¹, H O’Carroll², J S Lambert³, K B Grundy³, M O’Reilly², B Lennon³, C Collins⁴, T A Walsh¹, M P Geary¹ and M T Cafferkey^3,5

¹ Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Rotunda Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
² Department of Midwifery, Rotunda Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
³ Department of Microbiology, Rotunda Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
⁴ Department of Statistics, Rotunda Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
⁵ Department of Clinical Microbiology, Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland.

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dr J S Lambert
Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, University College Dublin, 40 Eccles Street, Room S-15, Dublin 7, Ireland; jlambert{at}mater.ie

Background: Chlamydia trachomatis can cause a sexually transmitted infection, which, untreated, may result in considerable morbidity.

Methods: A prevalence study was conducted for C trachomatis using nucleic acid amplification technology in asymptomatic women, and certain risk factors that may be used to direct future screening strategies were assessed.

Results: The study population comprised 945 asymptomatic women, of whom 783 were attending antenatal clinics, 91 were attending infertility clinics and 71 were attending family planning clinics. An overall C trachomatis prevalence of 3.7% (35/945) was found, with the highest prevalence of 11.2% (22/196) in Irish single women aged <25 years. Logistic regression analysis showed that single status and age <25 years were independent, statistically significant predictors of C trachomatis infection.

Conclusion: These results support routine screening of asymptomatic women who are sexually active and aged <25 years. An opportunist active screening of all sexually active women independent of age should be additionally considered if resources permit.

Abbreviations: NAAT, nucleic acid amplification technology

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