Original Article

Prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis Among Active Duty Male Soldiers Reporting to a Troop Medical Clinic for Routine Health Care

Authors: Jeffery P. Greene, MD, Elisabeth Stafford, MD

Abstract

Objective: To determine the prevalence of chlamydia among young, male soldiers receiving routine healthcare and to measure risk factors associated with sexually transmitted infections (STI).


Materials and Methods: Male soldiers between the ages of 18 to 25 years seeking routine healthcare were screened for chlamydia. Educational information regarding Chlamydia trachomatis was provided before testing. The transcription-mediated amplification (TMA) urine-based test was used as a sensitive and specific screening tool to detect disease. Assessment of risk factors was determined by questionnaire. Subjects who tested positive for chlamydia were treated with azithromycin 1 g in a single dose.


Results: A total of 138 male soldiers were screened for chlamydia. The majority of soldiers screened reported to sick call for evaluation of an injury, 31.9%. The estimated prevalence of chlamydia was 8.0% (95% CI: 0.035–0.125). Soldiers who tested positive for chlamydia were more commonly asymptomatic, 72.7%. Of those who screened positive for chlamydia, 63.6% did not use a condom during their last encounter. No subjects who tested positive for disease had been treated for an STI in the past.


Conclusions: The prevalence of chlamydia in this population of young, male soldiers is high. These results should spur providers to incorporate STI risk assessment and screening into a variety of clinical encounters.


Key Points


* The prevalence of asymptomatic Chlamydia trachomatis continues to be high.


* Young males who are sexually active should be screened for common sexually transmitted diseases based solely on experience and not on symptomatology.


* Newer, urine-based tests for chlamydia preclude testing concerns related to invasiveness of prior test methods.

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