Chapter 79: Chlamydia Cervicitis

Patient Story

A 16-year-old girl presents to clinic with a complaint of vaginal discharge. She has only one sexual partner but is unsure if her partner may have had other sexual contacts. On physical examination, there is ectopy and some mucoid discharge (Figure 79-1). The cervix bled easily while obtaining discharge and cells for a wet mount and genetic probe test. The wet mount showed many white blood cells (WBCs) but no visible pathogens. The patient was treated with 1 g of azithromycin taken in front of a clinic nurse. She was tested for HIV, syphilis, Trichomonas, GC, and Chlamydia and given a follow-up appointment in 1 week. The genetic probe test was positive for Chlamydia and all the other examinations were negative. This information was given to the patient on her return visit and safe sex was discussed.

Introduction

Chlamydia trachomatis causes genital infections that can result in pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), ectopic pregnancy, and infertility. Asymptomatic infection is common among both men and women so health care providers must rely on screening tests to detect disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends annual screening of all sexually active women ages 25 years and younger, and of older women with risk factors, such as having a new sex partner or multiple sex partners.¹

Epidemiology

• A very common STD, Chlamydia is the most frequently reported infectious disease in the US (excluding human papillomavirus [HPV]).¹ An estimated 1.2 million cases are reported to the CDC annually in the US.²

• The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates there are 140 million cases of Chlamydia trachomatis infection worldwide every year.³

• The CDC estimates screening and treatment programs can be conducted at an annual cost of $175 million. Every dollar spent on screening and treatment saves $12 in complications that result from untreated Chlamydia.⁴

• It is common among sexually active adolescents and young adults.⁵ As many as 1 in 10 adolescent girls tested for Chlamydia is infected. Based on reports to the CDC provided by states that collect age-specific data, teenage girls have the highest rates of chlamydial infection. In these states, 15- to 19-year-old girls represent 46 percent of infections and 20- to 24-year-old women represent another 33 percent.⁴

• Cross-sectional data from the 2003-2004 US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) shows 4 percent of female adolescents (aged 14 to 19 years) had laboratory evidence of infection with Chlamydia trachomatis.⁶

Etiology and Pathophysiology

• C. trachomatis is a small Gram-negative bacterium with unique biologic properties ...