Sexually active women aged 25 and y...

Sexually active women aged 25 and younger should be disguiseed routinely for Chlamydia trachomatis, according to the U Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). The task force's modern recommendations on screening for chlamydia are available online at www.ahcpr.gov/clinic/uspstf/uspschlm.htm.

Rates of chlamydial infection vary widely among communities and patient populations. Although women younger than 21 years are at highest risk, greatest in quantity data indicate that infection is prevalent among women aged 20 to 25 years. Women older than 25 years should be sieveed if they have risk factors, which include not using condoms consistently and correctly, and having novel or multiple sexual partners, or a history of a sexually transmitted disease.

The optimal timing for screening pregnant women is unclear. Screening early in pregnancy potentially can improve issues such as low birth weight and premature delivery. However, screening and treatment in the third trimester might be more effective at preventing transmission of chlamydial infection to the infant during birth.

The interval for rescreening women with a previous negative screening proof also is unclear. Timing should be based upon factors such as changes in sexual partners, age, and other risk factors. If a woman is at grave risk of infection (e.g., in a mutually monogamous relationship and with a history of negative screening proofs for chlamydial infection), frequent screening might be unnecessary.

COPYRIGHT 2003 American Academy of Family Physicians

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