Register      Login
Sexual Health Sexual Health Society
Publishing on sexual health from the widest perspective
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Prevalence and predictors of chlamydia co-infection among patients infected with gonorrhoea at a sexual health clinic in Sydney

David J. Templeton A B C E , Niveditha Manokaran A and Catherine C. O’Connor A C D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A RPA Sexual Health, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW 2050, Australia.

B The Kirby Institute, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2010, Australia.

C Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.

D South Western Clinical School, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2170, Australia.

E Corresponding author. Email: david.templeton@email.cs.nsw.gov.au

Sexual Health 9(4) 392-394 https://doi.org/10.1071/SH11146
Submitted: 19 October 2011  Accepted: 6 November 2011   Published: 30 March 2012

Abstract

Anogenital gonorrhoea (Neisseria gonorrhoeae) is commonly diagnosed at sexual health clinics by on-site microscopy. Whether to add anti-chlamydial therapy in such situations is unclear.

The medical records of all patients diagnosed with gonorrhoea between May 2005 and April 2010 at RPA Sexual Health were reviewed. Of 165 patients with anogenital gonorrhoea, 27 (16.4%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 11.1–22.9%) were co-infected with chlamydia (Chlamydia trachomatis). Compared with those only infected with anogenital gonorrhoea, there was no correlation of anogenital gonorrhoea–chlamydia co-infection with any demographic, behavioural or clinical variables examined. Anti-chlamydial therapy should be considered for all patients with gram stain diagnosed anogenital gonorrhoea at the initial clinic visit.

Additional keywords: C. trachomatis, N. gonorrhoeae, risk factors.


References

[1]  Whiley DM, Buda PP, Freeman K, Pattle NI, Bates J, Sloots TP. A real-time PCR assay for the detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in genital and extragenital specimens. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis 2005; 52 1–5.
A real-time PCR assay for the detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in genital and extragenital specimens.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2MXjvVKkur8%3D&md5=c2c9b704fd639612e43bf855653a1110CAS | 15878435PubMed |

[2]  McNally LP, Templeton DJ, Jin F, Grulich AE, Donovan B, Whiley DM, et al Low positive predictive value of a nucleic acid amplification test for nongenital Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection in homosexual men. Clin Infect Dis 2008; 47 e25–7.
Low positive predictive value of a nucleic acid amplification test for nongenital Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection in homosexual men.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 18549310PubMed |

[3]  Tsunoe H, Tanaka M, Nakayama H, Sano M, Nakamura G, Shin T, et al High prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Mycoplasma genitalium in female commercial sex workers in Japan. Int J STD AIDS 2000; 11 790–4.
High prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Mycoplasma genitalium in female commercial sex workers in Japan.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD3M7jslyjtA%3D%3D&md5=d8237fc383e320c13d7046de5878858eCAS | 11138913PubMed |

[4]  Chen XS, Yin YP, Liang GJ, Gong XD, Li HS, Shi MQ, et al Co-infection with genital gonorrhoea and genital chlamydia in female sex workers in Yunnan, China. Int J STD AIDS 2006; 17 329–32.
Co-infection with genital gonorrhoea and genital chlamydia in female sex workers in Yunnan, China.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 16643684PubMed |

[5]  Hijazi L, Thow C, Winter AJ. Factors affecting co-infection with genital chlamydia and genital gonorrhoea in an urban genitourinary medicine clinic. Sex Transm Infect 2002; 78 387
Factors affecting co-infection with genital chlamydia and genital gonorrhoea in an urban genitourinary medicine clinic.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD38nkvVSrtw%3D%3D&md5=c7d0c749f58a47cb9fcae1825810123aCAS | 12407251PubMed |

[6]  Creighton S, Tenant-Flowers M, Taylor CB, Miller R, Low N. Co-infection with gonorrhoea and chlamydia: how much is there and what does it mean? Int J STD AIDS 2003; 14 109–13.
Co-infection with gonorrhoea and chlamydia: how much is there and what does it mean?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 12662389PubMed |

[7]  Tapsall JW, Kinchington M. The frequency of co-infection with Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis in men and women in eastern Sydney. Pathology 1996; 28 84–7.
The frequency of co-infection with Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis in men and women in eastern Sydney.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DyaK283otlSgsA%3D%3D&md5=31a74e5dccb0a46d20037c3961b1daa8CAS | 8714280PubMed |