title: Analysis of laboratory testing results for Chlamydia trachomatis infection in an STI clinic in India: Need for extragenital screening.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Extragenital sites are believed to serve as hidden reservoirs for ongoing transmission of infection. In addition, treatment for rectal Chlamydia infection is different from that of genital Chlamydia infection. Many cases may be missed if only genital testing is performed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between September 2015 and August 2016, all male and female attendees at an STI clinic of a tertiary care hospital with genital and or extragenital discharge were screened for CT infection. Samples included endocervical swabs in women, urethral swabs and urine samples in men. Rectal and pharyngeal samples were collected wherever indicated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of total of 439 samples collected from 417 patients (245 women and 172 men), samples from women had a high positivity rate than men. (13.6% and 11%). High rates of rectal CT was detected nearly 30.43%. All rectal positive cases except one had no concomitant genital infection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prevalence of extragenital Chlamydia is increasing in men as well as women. What needs to be stressed on is the sexual behaviour of an individual and not the sexual identity. Further studies are needed to help formulate guidelines and recommendations for extragenital screening in a population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi - 110029.
authors.forename: Nazneen
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Arif
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi - 110029.
authors.forename: Deepak
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Juyal
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi - 110029.
authors.forename: Sujeesh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sebastian
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Venereology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi - 110029.
authors.forename: Neena
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Khanna
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi - 110029. Electronic address: dhawanb@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Benu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dhawan
mesh_terms: D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D010614:Pharynx; D015995:Prevalence; D012002:Rectal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012725:Sexual Behavior
keywords: Chlamydia trachomatis; Extragenital; Genital Screening; Rectal infections