Value and feasibility of screening women attending STD clinics for cervical chlamydial infections.

Abstract

A chlamydial screening service was provided in Bristol [England, UK] over 3 mo. for women attending the sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic for the 1st time or with a new complaint. Isolation of Chlamydia trachomatis was attempted in cytochalasin-treated McCoy [human synovial] cells. Of 919 specimens, valid results were obtained in 796. Chlamydial infections were identified and treated in 154 (19%) of these 796 women. Chlamydia were isolated from 52 (37%) of 152 female partners of men with non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU); these patients already routinely receive treatment with tetracyclines in this clinic. The remaining 102 infections (34 (48%) of 71 women with gonorrhea and 68 (12%) of the other 573 women) would have been unrecognized and usually untreated without chlamydial isolation studies. These figures confirm the need to provide chlamydial diagnostic services for selected STD clinic attenders.