Reinfections, persistent infections, and new infections after general population screening for Chlamydia trachomatis infection in the Netherlands.
OBJECTIVE
The objectives of this study were to determine the rate of new infections and reinfections or persistent infections with Chlamydia trachomatis to define appropriate screening intervals and to identify risk factors for reinfection.


METHODS
This was a cross-sectional study among a subsample of participants in a population-based screening.


METHODS
This study was conducted in urban and rural areas in The Netherlands.


METHODS
A total of 21,000 15- to 29-year-old women and men were invited for home-based urine testing. One year after the study, a subsample of 299 participants were offered retesting.


METHODS
The authors studied the rate of infection with C. trachomatis. Serovar determination was used to potentially discriminate between new infections and reinfections or persistent infections.


RESULTS
Nine C. trachomatis infections were found among 187 responders (4.8% confidence interval, 1.7-7.9). The prevalence was 10.4% (5 of 48) in previous positives and 2.9% (4 of 139) in negatives. Three of 5 repeatedly positive participants were infected with a different C. trachomatis serovar.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study indicates that infected persons found in a systematic, population-based screening should be re-screened within 1 year. Optimal screening intervals still need to be determined.
Veldhuijzen
Irene K
IK
Municipal Public Health Service, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Van Bergen
Jan E A M
JE
Götz
Hannelore M
HM
Hoebe
Christian J P A
CJ
Morré
Servaas A
SA
Richardus
Jan Hendrik
JH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000652:urine; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D015995:Prevalence; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012423:Rural Health; D012646:Self Administration; D014504:Urban Health; D016482:Urinalysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*