title: Factors affecting time to treatment following diagnosis of genital Chlamydia trachomatis infection in Scottish genitourinary medicine clinics.
abstract: Early treatment of genital Chlamydia trachomatis can reduce complications and transmission. Guidelines have proposed standards for how soon people should be treated following a test. Data from an audit of Scottish genitourinary (GU) medicine clinics was analysed to identify factors associated with a short interval to treatment of chlamydia. A sample of 538 cases of chlamydia diagnosed at 12 Scottish GU medicine clinics between 1 April 2005 and 30 June 2005 was studied. Variables assessed included: age, sex, sexuality, whether a contact, symptoms, whether microscopy was performed, time to lab result and how the result was given. Earlier treatment was associated with: being a contact, having symptoms, being male, performing microscopy (male patients only) and giving the result at a follow-up appointment. Most of these variables (sex, symptoms, etc.) are without the influence of clinic policies and the ones which can be influenced (microscopy and follow-up appointments) are becoming less common. Time to treatment of genital chlamydia might therefore increase in the future.
authors: Department of Genitourinary Medicine, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK. imali.fernando@luht.scot.nhs.uk
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Fernando
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Oroz
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Steedman
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Baguley
mesh_terms: D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D052776:Female Urogenital Diseases; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D005832:Genital Diseases, Male / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D052801:Male Urogenital Diseases; D008485:Medical Audit; D008853:Microscopy; D012606:Scotland; D013997:Time Factors