CHLAMYDIA TRACHOMATIS AND NEISSERIA GONORRHOEAE GENITAL INFECTION IN ASYMPTOMATIC MEN
Abstract
Introduction: Genital infection by Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) is common and may be asymptomatic, particularly for CT. The availability of nucleic acid amplification tests with high diagnostic sensibility and specificity allowed implementing routine screening in Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) Clinics. We aimed to determine the prevalence of genital infection by these bacteria in asymptomatic men attending an STI Clinic in a Dermatology Department and to characterize this subpopulation.
Methods: A retrospective 51-month-period study on male patients attending a STI Clinic in Lisbon and screened for asymptomatic genital infection by CT and NG was conducted. Data on demographics, sexual behavior, CT and NG screening results and other co-existing STIs were retrieved.
Results: A total of 199 patients were analyzed. The prevalence of asymptomatic genital infection by CT and NG was 5% (10 patients) and 0.5% (1 patient), respectively. Asymptomatic genital infection by CT was higher in heterosexual men (7.8% vs 1.3%) and median age of the infected patients group was lower, although not statistically significant.
Conclusion: Our study showed a prevalence of asymptomatic genital infection of 5.5% in male patients, which is in line with global epidemiologic data, thus further supporting the current recommendations on routine screening of these infections in the STI Clinic.
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References
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