Screening for Chlamydia trachomatis Infections in Women

Chlamydial infection may result in pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, and ectopic pregnancy. Chlamydia screening is recommended in sexually active women younger than 25 years of age and other women at increased risk and can be performed on vaginal swabs or urine samples. Foreword This Journal feature begins with a case vignette highlighting a common clinical problem. Evidence supporting various strategies is then presented, followed by a review of formal guidelines, when they exist. The article ends with the author’s clinical recommendations. Stage A 19-year-old woman visits her physician for a preventive health examination. Her medical history is unremarkable. She is sexually active with her boyfriend, and they use condoms inconsistently. She had one prior sexual partner and reports no symptoms of vaginal infections or sexually transmitted diseases. Results from her gynecologic examination are normal. Should this woman be screened for chlamydia, and if so, how? The Clinical Problem Epidemiology Chlamydia is caused by the gram-negative bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis and is the most common infection reported in the United States, with more than 1.5 million cases reported in 2015. 1 The actual number . . .