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The purpose of screening is early diagnosis and treatment. Screening tests are usually administered to people without current symptoms, but who may be at high risk for certain diseases or conditions.

Screening for chlamydia is done only for sexually transmitted forms and is especially important for pregnant women to prevent neonatal infections.

Screening Guidelines

Anyone is able to contract chlamydia after unprotected sexual contact with someone who is infected. All pregnant women and anyone with any sexually transmitted disease should be suspected of having a chlamydial infection. All those who are not treated routinely should be screened.

References

Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety website. Available at: http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/diseases/psittacosis.html . Accessed July 28, 2005.

Canadian Paediatric Society website. Available at: http://www.cps.ca/english/statements/ID/ID02-03.htm . Accessed July 28, 2005.

Chlamydia. The National Women's Health Organization website. Available at: http://www.4women.gov/faq/stdchlam.htm . Accessed July 28, 2005.

Chlamydia infections in women. Medline Plus. US National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health website. Available at: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000660.htm . Accessed July 28, 2005.

International Trachoma Initiative website. Available at: http://www.trachoma.org/home.asp . Accessed July 28, 2005.

Fauci A, Braunwald E, Isselbacher K, et al, eds. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine . 14th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill; 1998.

The Merck Manual .17th ed. West Point, PA: Merck and Co.; 1999.

National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention. Division of Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/std/ AND http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/psittacosis_t.htm . Accessed July 28, 2005.

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. National Institutes of Health website.

Available at: http://www.niaid.nih.gov/factsheets/stdclam.htm . Accessed July 28, 2005.

Last reviewed February 2007 by David Juan, MD

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Screening for Chlamydia

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