An evaluation of surveillance for Chlamydia trachomatis infections in the United States, 1987-1991.
OBJECTIVE
Chlamydia is the most common sexually transmitted bacterial pathogen in the United States; however, no precise data on the prevalence and incidence of chlamydia infection are available because currently no comprehensive national surveillance system exists for chlamydia. Despite the absence of such a system, states do report numbers of male and female chlamydia cases to CDC on a quarterly basis.


METHODS
This report summarizes and reviews the chlamydia surveillance data received by CDC from 1987 through 1991.


METHODS
Summary data on cases of chlamydia reported to state health departments were sent quarterly to CDC in Atlanta, Georgia. The quarterly data from each state included total number of chlamydia cases by sex and by source of report (public, private).


RESULTS
From 1987 through 1991, the number of states with legislation mandating reporting of chlamydia increased twofold. The reported chlamydia rate from those states also doubled during the same time period, from 91.4 cases per 100,000 population in 1987 to 197.5 cases per 100,000 population in 1991.


CONCLUSIONS
This twofold increase in the rate of chlamydia reported to CDC did not represent a doubling in chlamydia prevalence or incidence during this time period. Instead, the increase resulted from the increase in the number of states with reporting laws and from the initial attempts of those states to identify and report diagnosed chlamydia infections.


CONCLUSIONS
More accurate measures of the number of chlamydia infections and of trends in the chlamydia infection rate are needed to justify, develop, and evaluate public health programs to control chlamydia infections. An outline of possible surveillance activities for local communities is presented.
Webster
L A
LA
Greenspan
J R
JR
Nakashima
A K
AK
Johnson
R E
RE
D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis; D006801:Humans; D007878:Legislation as Topic; D011159:Population Surveillance; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology