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Cause:
Bacterium Chlamydia
trachomatis.
Illness and treatment:
Asymptomatic infection is common. There may be pain during
urination or abnormal genital discharge. Females can have
abdominal pain due to pelvic inflammatory disease, which can
cause infertility or ectopic pregnancy. The case and sexual
partners should take appropriate antibiotics. Treated cases
should be retested in 3 to 4 months.
Sources:
Chlamydial infection is
sexually transmitted or acquired at birth.
Additional risks:
Disease rates are highest among sexually active adolescents
and young adults. Female adolescents are physiologically
more susceptible to infection than older women. Perinatal
infection can result in neonatal conjunctivitis or
pneumonia.
Prevention:
Use safe sexual practices to
reduce transmission. Screen sexually active women at risk to
detect asymptomatic cases. If Chlamydia is found, also
screen or treat for gonorrhea.
Recent Washington trends:
Each year over 17,000 cases are reported.
2008:
21,327 cases were reported (323.7 cases/100,000 population).
Purpose of Reporting and
Surveillance
-
To assess trends in epidemic patterns,
understand the impact of the burden of disease on
populations, the health care infrastructure, and to better
target population-level disease prevention efforts
-
To assure the adequate treatment of infected
individuals in order to reduce the duration of
infectiousness and prevent sequelae of infection. (e.g., PID,
ectopic pregnancy, infertility)
-
To identify cases in a timely fashion in
order to interrupt the chain of infection through
patient-level interventions such as management of sexual
contacts and behavioral risk reduction counseling
Legal Reporting Requirements
-
Health care
providers: notifiable to local health jurisdiction within 3
work days
-
Hospitals:
notifiable to local health jurisdiction within 3 work days
-
Laboratories:
notifiable to local health jurisdiction within 2 work days
-
Local health
jurisdictions: notify the Washington State Department of
Health (DOH)
-
STD Services
Section within 7 days of case investigation completion;
summary information required within 21 days for all reported
cases
Last
guideline update
November 2009 |
