A Population-Based Study to Compare Treatment Outcomes Among Women With Urogenital Chlamydial Infection in Washington State, 1992 to 2015

Diagnosis and Management of Uncomplicated Chlamydia trachomatis Infections in Adolescents and Adults: Summary of Evidence Reviewed for the 2021 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Sexually Transmitted Infections Treatment Guidelines

To prepare for the development of the 2021 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) sexually transmitted infections treatment guidelines, the CDC convened a committee of expert consultants in June 2019 to discuss recent abstracts and published literature on the epidemiology, diagnosis, and management of sexually transmitted infections.This paper summarizes the key questions, evidence, and recommendations for the diagnosis and management of uncomplicated Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) infections in adolescents and adults that were reviewed and discussed for consideration in developing the guidelines. The evidence reviewed mostly focused on efficacy of doxycycline and azithromycin for urogenital, rectal, and oropharyngeal CT infection, CT risk factors in women, performance of CT nucleic acid amplification tests on self-collected meatal specimens in men, and performance of newer CT point-of-care tests.

Rectal Chlamydia trachomatis Infection: A Narrative Review of the State of the Science and Research Priorities

ABSTRACT

Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) is the most commonly reported infection in the United States. Most chlamydial research to date has focused on urogenital infection, but a growing body of research has demonstrated that rectal chlamydia is a relatively common infection among clinic-attending men and women. We know that most rectal CT infections are asymptomatic, but the health implications of these infections, particularly for women, are unclear. In addition, there are key knowledge gaps related to the epidemiologic parameters of rectal chlamydia, the routes of acquisition, the duration of infection, and the clinical significance of a positive rectal CT test result. This lack of information has led to a blind spot in the potential role of rectal chlamydia in sustaining high levels of CT transmission in the United States. Furthermore, recent findings from animal models suggest that the immune response generated from gastrointestinal chlamydial infection can protect against urogenital infection; however, it remains to be determined whether rectal chlamydia similarly modulates anti-CT immunity in humans. This is a critical question in the context of ongoing efforts to develop a CT vaccine. In this narrative review, we summarize the state of the science for rectal chlamydia and discuss the key outstanding questions and research priorities in this neglected area of sexual health research.

Role of Vaginal Microbiota Dysbiosis in Gynecological Diseases and the Potential Interventions

Vaginal microbiota dysbiosis, characterized by the loss of Lactobacillus dominance and increase of microbial diversity, is closely related to gynecological diseases; thus, intervention on microbiota composition is significant and promising in the treatment of gynecological diseases. Currently, antibiotics and/or probiotics are the mainstay of treatment, which show favorable therapeutic effects but also bring problems such as drug resistance and high recurrence. In this review, we discuss the role of vaginal microbiota dysbiosis in various gynecological infectious and non-infectious diseases, as well as the current and potential interventions.

High rates of persistent and recurrent chlamydia in pregnant women after treatment with azithromycin

BACKGROUND:

Chlamydia trachomatis is a common bacterial sexually transmitted infection that can persist or recur after antibiotic treatment. Universal screening for chlamydia in pregnancy is recommended to prevent adverse birth outcomes. Single-dose oral azithromycin has been the first-line therapy for chlamydia in pregnancy since 2006.

OBJECTIVE:

In the setting of limited data and rising sexually transmitted infection rates in the United States, our goal was to document rates and risk factors for persistent or recurrent chlamydia after azithromycin treatment in pregnancy.

STUDY DESIGN:

This retrospective cohort study included pregnancies with urogenital chlamydia and follow-up testing in women who delivered at an Alabama facility between November 2012 and December 2017. Pregnancies with prescribed azithromycin therapy and repeat chlamydia testing ≥21 days later were included. Chlamydia trachomatis nucleic acid amplification testing was performed on genital swab or urine samples. Descriptive characteristics and birth outcomes were compared for categories stratified by repeat test results: persistence (+ +), recurrence (+ − +), or clearance (+ −). Logistic regression models were used to identify demographic and clinical risk factors for persistent or recurrent chlamydia in pregnancy.

RESULTS:

Among 810 women with 840 pregnancies with repeat chlamydia testing after azithromycin treatment, 114 (14%) had persistence and an additional 72 (9%) had recurrence later in pregnancy. The median time to repeat testing was 30 days (interquartile range, 24–49 days). Concomitant gonorrhea or syphilis in pregnancy was independently associated with persistent or recurrent chlamydia (adjusted odds ratio, 1.6; 95% confidence interval, 1.1–2.4).

CONCLUSION:

Persistent or recurrent chlamydia after azithromycin treatment was detected in nearly 1 in 4 pregnancies with repeat testing in our urban center, highlighting the importance of performing a test of cure and ensuring partner therapy to reduce recurrent chlamydia risk.

Recurrent/Intermittent Vaginal and Rectal Chlamydial Infection Following Treatment: A Prospective Cohort Study Among Female Sexually Transmitted Disease Clinic Patients

BACKGROUND

Rectal Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) is common among clinic-attending women, but little is known about clearance and health implications of rectal CT.

METHODS

At the municipal sexually transmitted disease clinic in Seattle, Washington, in 2017-2018, we enrolled women at high risk for urogenital CT into an 8-week prospective study. Women received standard CT treatment at enrollment. Women self-collected daily rectal and vaginal specimens for nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) and completed weekly sexual exposure diaries. We performed CT culture on the enrollment rectal specimen.

RESULTS

We enrolled 50 women; 13 (26%) tested positive for vaginal (n = 11) and/or rectal (n = 11) CT. Sixty percent of women with rectal CT per NAAT were also culture positive. Median time to CT clearance after azithromycin treatment was 8.0 days for vaginal CT and 7.0 days for rectal CT. Eight women with rectal CT at enrollment had at least 1 rectal CT-positive NAAT after clearance of the initial infection; none reported anal sex.

CONCLUSIONS

Most NAAT-positive rectal infections were culture positive, suggesting active infection. Time to NAAT clearance of rectal and genital tract CT was similar, and intermittent rectal CT positivity was common in the absence of anal sexual exposure. The cause of recurrent/intermittent rectal CT and the clinical implications of these infections require further study.