Chlamydia infection overview: Difference between revisions

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==Diagnosis==
==Diagnosis==
===History and Symptoms===
===History and Symptoms===
Many people with Chlamydia exhibit no symptoms of infection. Between half and three-quarters of all women who have chlamydia have no symptoms and do not know that they are infected.
A detailed and thorough sexual history from the patient is necessary. Specific areas of focus when obtaining a history from the patient include number and type of sexual partners (new, casual, or regular), contraception use, and previous history of chlamydia infection or other sexually transmitted diseases.<ref name="pmid16669564">{{cite journal| author=Miller KE| title=Diagnosis and treatment of Chlamydia trachomatis infection. | journal=Am Fam Physician | year= 2006 | volume= 73 | issue= 8 | pages= 1411-6 | pmid=16669564 | doi= | pmc= | url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/eutils/elink.fcgi?dbfrom=pubmed&tool=sumsearch.org/cite&retmode=ref&cmd=prlinks&id=16669564  }} </ref><ref name=ddd> Chlamydia - CDC Fact Sheet (Detailed). CDC.http://www.cdc.gov/std/chlamydia/stdfact-chlamydia-detailed.htm. Accessed on January 6th, 2016 </ref><ref name="pmid18159391">{{cite journal| author=Navarro C, Jolly A, Nair R, Chen Y| title=Risk factors for genital chlamydial infection. | journal=Can J Infect Dis | year= 2002 | volume= 13 | issue= 3 | pages= 195-207 | pmid=18159391 | doi= | pmc=PMC2094865 | url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/eutils/elink.fcgi?dbfrom=pubmed&tool=sumsearch.org/cite&retmode=ref&cmd=prlinks&id=18159391  }} </ref> The majority of women with chlamydia infection are asymptomatic or present with minimal symptoms.<ref name="pmid16669564">{{cite journal| author=Miller KE| title=Diagnosis and treatment of Chlamydia trachomatis infection. | journal=Am Fam Physician | year= 2006 | volume= 73 | issue= 8 | pages= 1411-6 | pmid=16669564 | doi= | pmc= | url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/eutils/elink.fcgi?dbfrom=pubmed&tool=sumsearch.org/cite&retmode=ref&cmd=prlinks&id=16669564  }} </ref><ref name=ddd> Chlamydia - CDC Fact Sheet (Detailed). CDC.http://www.cdc.gov/std/chlamydia/stdfact-chlamydia-detailed.htm. Accessed on January 6th, 2016 </ref> Common symptoms of chlamydia infection among women include abnormal vaginal bleeding or discharge, abdominal pain, painful sexual intercourse, painful urination, and urinary urgency. Symptoms of chlamydia infection among men include penile discharge and pruritus, testicular pain or swelling, and pain during urination.<ref name=cde> Chlamydia Infection. Wikipedia.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chlamydia_infection. Accessed on January 11, 2016</ref>


===Physical Examination===
===Physical Examination===

Revision as of 16:45, 13 January 2016

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Maliha Shakil, M.D. [2]

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Overview

The term Chlamydia refers to an infection by any one of the species in the bacterial genus ChlamydiaChlamydia trachomatis, Chlamydia suis or Chlamydia muridarum—, but of these, only C. trachomatis is found in humans.[1] Chlamydia (from the Greek, χλαμύδος meaning "cloak") is a common sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by the gram negative bacterium, Chlamydia trachomatis. Chlamydia is the most frequently reported bacterial sexually transmitted infection in the United States and a major infectious cause of human eye and genital disease.[2] Chlamydia trachomatis was first discovered in 1907 by Halberstaedter and von Prowazek.[3] The inclusion bodies of Chlamydia trachomatis were first described in 1942.[4] Chlamydia must be differentiated from other genital tract infections such as Gonorrhea infection, bacterial vaginosis, vaginal candidiasis, infection with Trichomonas vaginalis, and mycoplasma infection.[5]

Historical Perspective

Chlamydia trachomatis was first discovered in 1907 by Halberstaedter and von Prowazek.[3] The inclusion bodies of Chlamydia trachomatis were first described in 1942.[4]

Pathophysiology

C. trachomatis is naturally found living only inside human cells. Chlamydia can be transmitted during vaginal, anal, or oral sex, and can be passed from an infected mother to her baby during vaginal childbirth.

Causes

Chlamydia is a common sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by the gram negative bacterium, Chlamydia trachomatis.

Differentiating Chlamydia infection from other diseases

Chlamydia must be differentiated from other genital tract infections such as Gonorrhea infection, bacterial vaginosis, vaginal candidiasis, infection with Trichomonas vaginalis, and mycoplasma infection.[5]

Epidemiology and Demographics

In 2014, the incidence of chylamydia was estimated to be 439 cases per 100,000 individuals in the United States.[4] The incidence of chlamydia in women has increased greatly between 1987 and 2003 from 79 to 467 cases per 100,000 individuals.[6] Almost two-thirds of new chlamydia infections occur among youth aged 15-24 years. It is estimated that 1 in 20 sexually active young women aged 14-24 years has chlamydia.[4] Females are more commonly affected with chlamydia infection than males. The female to male ratio is approximately 1.52 to 1.[4] The prevalence of chlamydia among non-Hispanic african americans is 6.7 times the prevalence among non-Hispanic whites.[4]

Risk Factors

Common risk factors in the development of chlamydia infection include unprotected sexual activity, multiple sexual partners, age, men who have sex with men, and low socio-economic status.[4][7][8]

Screening

According to the 2015 Sexually Transmitted Diseases Treatment Guidelines by the CDC, screening for chlamydia is recommended for sexually active under 25 years, women over 25 who are at increased risk, all pregnant women under 25 years, pregnant women over 25 who are at increased risk, men who have sex with men, and individuals with HIV.[4]

Natural History, Complications and Prognosis

If left untreated, chlamydia can cause pelvic inflammatory disease in women and epididymitis and orchitis in males.[4][8] Common complications of chlamydia among women include cervicitis, infertility, ectopic pregnancy, and chronic pelvic pain. Complications of chlamydia in men include proctitis, epididymitis, and sterility. Other complications of chlamydia include an increased risk of acquiring HIV and reactive arthritis.[9] Prognosis of chlamydia is generally good with adequate treatment.

Diagnosis

History and Symptoms

A detailed and thorough sexual history from the patient is necessary. Specific areas of focus when obtaining a history from the patient include number and type of sexual partners (new, casual, or regular), contraception use, and previous history of chlamydia infection or other sexually transmitted diseases.[6][9][7] The majority of women with chlamydia infection are asymptomatic or present with minimal symptoms.[6][9] Common symptoms of chlamydia infection among women include abnormal vaginal bleeding or discharge, abdominal pain, painful sexual intercourse, painful urination, and urinary urgency. Symptoms of chlamydia infection among men include penile discharge and pruritus, testicular pain or swelling, and pain during urination.[10]

Physical Examination

Laboratory Findings

The diagnosis of genital chlamydial infections has evolved rapidly from the 1990s through 2006. Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT), such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), transcription mediated amplification (TMA), and the DNA strand displacement assay (SDA) now are the mainstays.

References

  1. "www.chlamydiae.com (professional) - Taxonomy diagram". Retrieved 2007-10-27.
  2. Chlamydia fact sheet from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  3. 3.0 3.1 Budai I (2007). "Chlamydia trachomatis: milestones in clinical and microbiological diagnostics in the last hundred years: a review". Acta Microbiol Immunol Hung. 54 (1): 5–22. doi:10.1556/AMicr.54.2007.1.2. PMID 17523388.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 Chlamydia trachomatis. Wikipedia.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chlamydia_trachomatis. Accessed on December 22, 2015
  5. 5.0 5.1 Genital Tract Chlamydia infection. BMJ. http://bestpractice.bmj.com/best-practice/monograph/52/diagnosis/differential.html. Accessed on December 27, 2015
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 Miller KE (2006). "Diagnosis and treatment of Chlamydia trachomatis infection". Am Fam Physician. 73 (8): 1411–6. PMID 16669564.
  7. 7.0 7.1 Navarro C, Jolly A, Nair R, Chen Y (2002). "Risk factors for genital chlamydial infection". Can J Infect Dis. 13 (3): 195–207. PMC 2094865. PMID 18159391.
  8. 8.0 8.1 Mishori R, McClaskey EL, WinklerPrins VJ (2012). "Chlamydia trachomatis infections: screening, diagnosis, and management". Am Fam Physician. 86 (12): 1127–32. PMID 23316985.
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 Chlamydia - CDC Fact Sheet (Detailed). CDC.http://www.cdc.gov/std/chlamydia/stdfact-chlamydia-detailed.htm. Accessed on January 6th, 2016
  10. Chlamydia Infection. Wikipedia.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chlamydia_infection. Accessed on January 11, 2016


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