Rectal Chlamydia trachomatis infection in women. Is it overlooked?
Screening for rectal chlamydia was not routinely offered in our department until we had a local outbreak of lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) in men who have sex with men (MSM) in 2004/2005. We later decided to extend the screening to high-risk women (women who had receptive anal sex, contacts of gonorrhoea, women, with anorectal symptoms, women who had been sexually assaulted). A retrospective study of 152 women from whom 160 rectal chlamydia swabs were taken was carried out. Twenty (12.5%) swabs were positive, 19 of which were also positive at the cervix. All were non-LGV serovars. The groups at greatest risk were high-risk women aged less than 20 years and women with proven gonococcal infection where the prevalence was 22.6% and 30%, respectively. We conclude that rectal chlamydial infection in women may be common and further studies are needed to elucidate its importance.
Sethupathi
M
M
Department of Genitourinary Medicine, Singleton Hospital, Sketty Lane, Swansea SA28QA, UK. meena181@doctors.org.uk
Blackwell
A
A
Davies
H
H
D000328:Adult; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D015995:Prevalence; D011349:Proctitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D012002:Rectal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D012007:Rectum / Q000382:microbiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult