Prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae infections detected by real-time PCR among individuals reporting sexual assaults in the Paris, France area.
BACKGROUND
Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) and Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) are the most common bacteria involved in sexually transmitted infections (STIs). In France, combined screening for CT and NG using nucleic acid amplification tests is recommended in populations that are considered at risk. However, no data have been published about victims of sexual assaults. The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the usefulness of real-time PCR for the rapid detection of CT and NG genomic DNA, and the prevalence of CT/NG infections in a sample of sexual assault victims examined at a department of forensic medicine.


METHODS
Between July 2012 and July 2013, 326 adults and adolescents aged over 12 years reported a sexual assault and they were referred to the Department of Forensic Medicine for a medical and forensic examination. Secretions from urogenital (cervix or vagina), anorectal, or pharyngeal sites were collected for CT/NG assays.


RESULTS
CT and NG were detected in 48/326 (15%) and 16/326 patients (5%), respectively, where 10 (3%) had a CT/NG co-infection. Among 48 patients with CT infection, 13 (27.1%) patients had co-occurring genital and anorectal infections. For the pharyngeal sites, 3/21 men (14.3%) were NG-positive.


CONCLUSIONS
Given the high prevalence of CT and NG infections, systematic screening of both pathogens at the time of forensic examination should provide an opportunity for the early treatment of diagnosed STIs.
Service de Bactériologie, Virologie, Hygiène Hospitalière, AP-HP, Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris Seine Saint-Denis, Site Avicenne, Bobigny, France; Infection, Antimicrobiens, Modélisation, Evolution (IAME), UMR 1137 INSERM, Universités Paris Diderot et Paris Nord Sorbonne Paris Cité, France.
Françoise
F
Jauréguy
Department of Forensic Medicine, Hôpital Jean-Verdier, AP-HP, Bondy, France; Institut de Recherche Interdisciplinaire sur les Enjeux Sociaux (IRIS), UMR 8156-997, UFR SMBH, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Université Paris 13, France. Electronic address: patrick.chariot@aphp.fr.
Patrick
P
Chariot
Service de Bactériologie, Virologie, Hygiène Hospitalière, AP-HP, Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris Seine Saint-Denis, Site Avicenne, Bobigny, France.
Annie
A
Vessières
Service de Bactériologie, Virologie, Hygiène Hospitalière, AP-HP, Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris Seine Saint-Denis, Site Avicenne, Bobigny, France; Infection, Antimicrobiens, Modélisation, Evolution (IAME), UMR 1137 INSERM, Universités Paris Diderot et Paris Nord Sorbonne Paris Cité, France.
Bertrand
B
Picard
D000293:Adolescent; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000502:physiology; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae / Q000502:physiology; D010297:Paris / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012742:Sex Offenses
Chlamydia trachomatis; Forensic medicine; Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Real-time PCR; Sexual assault; Sexually transmitted infection