Multicenter study of nucleic acid amplification tests for detection of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae in children being evaluated for sexual abuse.
BACKGROUND
Diagnosis of sexually transmitted infections in children suspected of sexual abuse is challenging due to the medico-legal implications of test results. Currently, the forensic standard for diagnosis of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) infections is culture. In adults, nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) are superior to culture for CT, but these tests have been insufficiently evaluated in pediatric populations for forensic purposes.


METHODS
We evaluated the use of NAATs, using urine and genital swabs versus culture for diagnosis of CT and NG in children evaluated for sexual abuse in 4 US cities. Urine and a genital swab were collected for CT and NG NAATs along with routine cultures. NAAT positives were confirmed by PCR, using an alternate target.


RESULTS
Prevalence of infection among 485 female children were 2.7% for CT and 3.3% for NG by NAAT. The sensitivity of urine NAATs for CT and NG relative to vaginal culture was 100%. Eight participants with CT-positive and 4 with NG-positive NAATs had negative culture results (P = 0.018 for CT urine NAATs vs. culture). There were 24 of 485 (4.9%) female participants with a positive NAAT for CT or NG or both versus 16 of 485 (3.3%) with a positive culture for either, resulting in a 33% increase in children with a positive diagnosis.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that NAATs on urine, with confirmation, are adequate for use as a new forensic standard for diagnosis of CT and NG in children suspected of sexual abuse. Urine NAATs offer a clear advantage over culture in sensitivity and are less invasive than swabs, reducing patient trauma and discomfort.
Black
Carolyn M
CM
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA. cblack@cdc.gov
Driebe
Elizabeth M
EM
Howard
Laurie A
LA
Fajman
Nancy N
NN
Sawyer
Mary K
MK
Girardet
Rebecca G
RG
Sautter
Robert L
RL
Greenwald
Earl
E
Beck-Sague
Consuelo M
CM
Unger
Elizabeth R
ER
Igietseme
Joseph U
JU
Hammerschlag
Margaret R
MR
D000293:Adolescent; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D005554:Forensic Medicine / Q000379:methods; D005835:Genitalia / Q000382:microbiology; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D021141:Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012742:Sex Offenses; D014481:United States; D014556:Urine / Q000382:microbiology
D004269:DNA, Bacterial