Detection of Chlamydia trachomatis infection in early pregnancy using self-administered vaginal swabs and first pass urines: a cross-sectional community-based survey

A cross-sectional survey of 1216 newly pregnant women (mean age = 31 years) from 32 general practices and five family planning clinics was conducted to find the prevalence of chlamydial infection and to evaluate self-administered vaginal swabs and first-pass urines for detection of Chlamydia trachom...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:British journal of general practice 2002-10, Vol.52 (483), p.830-832
Main Authors: Oakeshott, Pippa, Hay, Phillip, Hay, Sima, Steinke, Frances, Rink, Elizabeth, Thomas, Brenda, Oakeley, Penny, Kerry, Sally
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Chlamydia Infections - diagnosis
Chlamydia Infections - ethnology
Chlamydia trachomatis
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Humans
Mass Screening
Middle Aged
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Complications, Infectious - diagnosis
Pregnancy Complications, Infectious - ethnology
Prenatal Care - methods
Specimen Handling - methods
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Summary:A cross-sectional survey of 1216 newly pregnant women (mean age = 31 years) from 32 general practices and five family planning clinics was conducted to find the prevalence of chlamydial infection and to evaluate self-administered vaginal swabs and first-pass urines for detection of Chlamydia trachomatis by ligase chain reaction assay. Overall prevalence of infection was 2.4% (95% CI = 1.5 to 3.3) but in women aged less than 25 years it was 8.6% (95% CI = 4.1 to 12.9) and in pregnant teenagers it was 14.3% (95% CI = 3.7 to 24.9). In 1161 women with both swab and urine results, 25 women were positive on both specimens three on swab alone, and one on urine alone. When asked which they preferred to provide, 47% said urine, 59 swab and 48% preferred both equally. This is the first study to show that non-invasive screening in early pregnancy is feasible in the community. Although swabs detected 10% more infections, nearly half the women preferred providing urine specimens.
ISSN:0960-1643