title: Screening for Chlamydia trachomatis in asymptomatic women attending outpatient clinics in a large maternity hospital in Dublin, Ireland.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chlamydia trachomatis can cause a sexually transmitted infection, which, untreated, may result in considerable morbidity.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prevalence study was conducted for C trachomatis using nucleic acid amplification technology in asymptomatic women, and certain risk factors that may be used to direct future screening strategies were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study population comprised 945 asymptomatic women, of whom 783 were attending antenatal clinics, 91 were attending infertility clinics and 71 were attending family planning clinics. An overall C trachomatis prevalence of 3.7% (35/945) was found, with the highest prevalence of 11.2% (22/196) in Irish single women aged <25 years. Logistic regression analysis showed that single status and age <25 years were independent, statistically significant predictors of C trachomatis infection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results support routine screening of asymptomatic women who are sexually active and aged <25 years. An opportunist active screening of all sexually active women independent of age should be additionally considered if resources permit.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Rotunda Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: McMillan
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: O'Carroll
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lambert
authors.forename: K B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Grundy
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: O'Reilly
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lennon
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Geary
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Cafferkey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006771:Hospitals, Maternity; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000379:methods*; D015995:Prevalence