Asymptomatic Chlamydia trachomatis infections in teenage males.
This study examined the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis infections of the urethra in asymptomatic teenage males in a juvenile detention setting. Gonorrhea cultures, chlamydia smears using the direct immunofluorescent antibody (DFA) technique, and 15-20 ml of a first-catch urine (FCU) sample were obtained. Of the 227 adolescent males screened, 205 had experienced sexual intercourse. Twenty-seven (13.2%) of the sexually active adolescents had positive DFA smears for C. trachomatis. Three (1.5%) had positive Neisseria gonorrhoeae cultures. A urine leukocyte count of greater than 10 per high-power field gave a 91% specificity but only a 26% sensitivity for a positive DFA. The high prevalence of chlamydia in this population and the relative low cost of the DFA screen for chlamydia make this a useful procedure for discovering unsuspected disease, particularly in a high-risk population. The FCU screen for leukocytes was of limited value in identifying asymptomatic infection.
Brady
M
M
Division of Adolescent Medicine, Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles, CA 90027.
Baker
C
C
Neinstein
L S
LS
D000293:Adolescent; D002140:California; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011776:Pyuria / Q000150:complications; D012725:Sexual Behavior