BMJ  2006;332:551 (4 March), doi:10.1136/bmj.332.7540.551

Letter

Chlamydia is being managed in primary care

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

EDITOR—Cassell et al described the increasing role of general practice in the diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted infections.1 Chlamydia is the commonest sexually transmitted infection in the United Kingdom,2 and we recently carried out a study investigating the management of cases of chlamydia diagnosed in primary care.

We looked at cases of Chlamydia trachomatis infection referred to a genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinic with a positive test from primary care. We assessed management before referral, including treatment given, contacts notified, and contacts treated. We then assessed additional benefits of referral, including additional diagnoses of sexually and non-sexually transmitted diseases, with additional contacts identified, notified, and treated.

The implications of inadequate management of chlamydia infection should not be underestimated. However, in our study most patients were treated appropriately before referral, and contact tracing had been initiated. Referral infrequently identified additional sexually transmitted diseases and led to few additional contacts . . . [Full text of this article]

Amanda C Davies, specialist registrar obstetrics and gynaecology

Princess of Wales Hospital, Bridgend, South Wales dr_amanda_davies@yahoo.co.uk

H Birley, consultant in genitourinary medicine, A Chiganze, specialist registrar in genitourinary medicine

Cardiff Royal Infirmary, Cardiff CF24 0SZ


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Relevant Article

Trends in sexually transmitted infections in general practice 1990-2000: population based study using data from the UK general practice research database
Jackie A Cassell, Catherine H Mercer, Lorna Sutcliffe, Irene Petersen, Amir Islam, M Gary Brook, Jonathan D Ross, George R Kinghorn, Ian Simms, Gwenda Hughes, Azeem Majeed, Judith M Stephenson, Anne M Johnson, and Andrew C Hayward
BMJ 2006 332: 332-334. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

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