Chlamydia checklist

• Asymptomatic in at least 50% of individuals

• Early symptoms may include discharge and dysuria

• More severe signs and symptoms in women may include: menstrual irregularity, pelvic pain, backache, dyspareunia, and mucopurulent cervical discharge

• Men can develop a mucopurulent urethral discharge and epididymo-orchitis

• A sexual contact of a person with chlamydial infection or another STD

• If symptomatic

• Where there has been unprotected intercourse and one or more of the following exist:

• change of sexual partners in previous 2 months
• more than one sexual partner
• patient's partner has other sexual partners

• If patient is under 25 years and there has been unprotected intercourse

• PCR  on urethral swab or first catch urine in males

• PCR on endocervical swab or first catch urine in females

• Chlamydia is an intracellular pathogen, and swabs should aim at collecting columnar-epithelial cells.

• The chlamydia swab should be the last to be performed if it is part of a series of tests.

• The chlamydia swab can be done if a woman is menstruating

• Azithromycin 1 g orally as a single dose 

or

• Doxycycline 200 mg orally daily for 10 days

• Chlamydial infection is a common STD

• It is a notifiable infection

• All sexual contacts need to be tested and treated

• Advise abstinence from  sex until 1 week after treatment of self and partner

• Review and check compliance with medication and/or compliance with safe sex guidelines

• Reinforce prevention and safe sex practices.

• Ensure all sexual contacts have been tested and treated.