A Pseudo-outbreak of Chlamydia trachomatis in a State Residential Facility: Implications for Diagnostic Testing

In December 1998, an outbreak of Chlamydia trachomatis genital infections was reported among 18 residents of a state residential facility housing 392 mentally retarded clients. The initial patient tested positive by ligase chain reaction (LCR); 17 others tested positive by culture. Serologic test re...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of infectious diseases 2002-03, Vol.185 (6), p.841-844
Main Authors: Gust, Deborah A., Wang, Susan A., Black, Carolyn M., Brown, Teresa M., St. Louis, Michael E., King, Katherine A., Quinlisk, M. Patricia, Levine, William C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Atherosclerosis (general aspects, experimental research)
Bacterial diseases
Bacterial diseases of the genital system
Biological and medical sciences
Blood and lymphatic vessels
Cardiology. Vascular system
Chlamydia Infections - diagnosis
Chlamydia Infections - epidemiology
Chlamydia trachomatis
Chlamydia trachomatis - isolation & purification
Concise Communications
Cottages
Disease Outbreaks
DNA, Bacterial - analysis
Epidemiology
Genitalia
Human bacterial diseases
Humans
Infections
Infectious diseases
Iowa - epidemiology
Ligase Chain Reaction
Medical sciences
Preventive medicine
Public health
Screening tests
Specimens
Citations: Items that cite this one
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Summary:In December 1998, an outbreak of Chlamydia trachomatis genital infections was reported among 18 residents of a state residential facility housing 392 mentally retarded clients. The initial patient tested positive by ligase chain reaction (LCR); 17 others tested positive by culture. Serologic test results for C. trachomatis antibodies in patients who had tested positive by culture were negative. Further testing showed that C. trachomatis DNA could not be detected in the LCR specimen or in any reportedly positive culture specimens. At the original culture laboratory, C. trachomatis culture was infrequently performed, and positive controls were not adequately prepared. This pseudo-outbreak highlights problems that may occur with C. trachomatis testing. As experience with C. trachomatis culture declines, laboratories performing this test should ensure quality and consider confirmatory testing. For C. trachomatis screening tests, the need for confirmatory testing depends on individual patient considerations (including medical-legal implications) and prevalence of infection in the tested population.
ISSN:0022-1899
1573-6613
1537-6613
DOI:10.1086/339006