Should Screening for Chlamydia Trachomatis Be Performed on Asymptomatic Young Adults as well as on the Victims of Sexual Assault?

Abstract

In recent years, chlamydia trachomatis (CT) screening has been discussed among different scientific boards. However, in Spain, chlamydia screening is offered to women who attend a hospital after sexual assault. We found that 5.1% of 59 cases attending our hospital after sexual assault between January 2017 and December 2019 tested positive for chlamydia infection. The mean age of the cases was 23.3 years. In comparison, screening asymptomatic patients of similar age attending hospital for other reasons have revealed a prevalence of CT of 7%. Hence, since CT is common in asymptomatic individuals as well as victims of sexual assault, we believe that chlamydia screening should also be a priority in asymptomatic patients.

Keywords

• chlamydia trachomatis
• screening
• sexual assault