June 2022 is the a Vascular Diagnostics is the month of the Chlamydia trachomatis campaign organized by the STI laboratory, in which, among other partners, Villa Medicina has also joined!
BACKGROUND OF THE DISEASE
Chlamydia trachomatis is the most common bacterial sexually transmitted disease (STI) worldwide, causing approximately 128-130 million new cases annually, according to WHO estimates. Based on data from the European Center for Disease Control (ECDC), the number of reported domestic cases is strongly underrepresented (below 800); which the actual number of cases may even exceed by an order of magnitude. Vascular Diagnostics and the partners participating in the campaign aim to significantly increase the rate of detected cases in Hungary during and after the VD screening campaign.
HOW IS CHLAMYDIA DIAGNOSED?
Due to the size and intracellular location of the Chlamydia trachomatis bacterium, the pathogen cannot be detected either by traditional culture or standard light microscopy. That is why it can only be diagnosed with targeted examination; the gold standard procedure is the PCR test. The diagnostic test requires sampling from the site of an acute urogenital or extragenital infection, which in women is typically a vaginal discharge or cervical sample, in men a first urine sample . An acute infection does not develop a detectable immune response, so serological tests (IgA and IgG antibody detection) can only be used to infer the fact of a chronic infection that took place earlier.
HOW DOES THE DISEASE SPREAD?
The bacterium is most often spread through sexual intercourse with infected secretions, but it can also be spread with infected hands. The most common symptom is acute cervicitis; appears in the form of urethritis, but extragenital proctitis-; pharyngitis and conjunctivitis may also develop. Targeted diagnosis of the disease is made difficult by the fact that, with the exception of eye infections, at least 70% of women and almost half of men survive the infection without symptoms.
WHO CAN YOU INFECT?
Acute infections are approx. two-thirds of it affects the young (15-24) age group who are starting to have sex. They usually have very little information about this venereal disease, its symptoms and prevention options. The risk of infection increases with new or more partners; absence of condom use; and C. trachomatis infection that has already been passed. Infected cervical secretions can also infect newborns passing through the birth canal by contact, causing early-type conjunctivitis and, more rarely, late-type respiratory symptoms. Prevention means prenatal screening and positive cases treatment, which is an integral part of pregnancy care in many countries. In the absence of adequate treatment, ascending acute infection can lead to painful pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) on the basis of chronic infection, or It can also lead to ectopic pregnancy or infertility. Complicated arthritis (SARA) may also occur.
IN CASE OF A POSITIVE TEST..
In a confirmed case, i.e. in the case of a positive Chlamydia trachomatis PCR test, contact investigation is essential, and treatment of the sexual partner (ideally after screening) is also justified. The infection does not result in permanent protection, i.e. the recovered patients can be re-infected repeatedly or even several times in the future. High-risk patients (e.g. pregnant women, patients with persistent, complicated or extragenital infections, etc.) should also undergo a control examination after therapy. Depending on the burdensome anamnesis and the clinical symptoms, a complex screening test covering other STI symptoms should be considered: Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseira gonorrhoeae, Mycoplasma genitalium multiplex PCR. As prevention, the use of barrier-type contraceptives is recommended.
References:
E Lanjouw, S Ouburg, H J de Vries et al. 2015 European guideline on the management of Chlamydia trachomatis infections. Int J STD AIDS. 2016 Apr;27(5):333-48.
European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Chlamydia infection. In: ECDC. Annual epidemiological report for 2018. Stockholm: ECDC; 2020.
WHO guidelines for the treatment of Chlamydia trachomatis. ISBN 97892 4 1549714 ©World Health Organization 2016
Vascular Diagnostics
During the Chlamydia screening campaign in June, we provide the Chlamydia trachomatis PCR test at a discount, which is recommended for all adult women after living with a new partner, as well as sexually active women under the age of 25. annually for women as well.
Avoid unnecessary risks and request an appointment for chlamydia screening today!
