File(s) not publicly available
Use of a primary care database to determine trends in genital chlamydia testing, diagnostic episodes and management in UK general practice, 1990-2004
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-07, 13:57 authored by Gwenda Hughes, Tim Williams, Ian Simms, Catherine Mercer, Kevin Fenton, Jackie CassellOBJECTIVE: To determine the extent of testing, diagnostic episodes and management of genital Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) infection in UK primary care using a large primary care database. METHODS: The incidence of CT tests, diagnostic episodes, treatments and referrals was measured for all adult patients in the General Practice Research Database between 1990 and 2004. RESULTS: In those aged 12-64 years in 2004, rates of CT testing increased to reach 1439/100,000 person years (py) in women but only 74/100,000 py in men. Testing rates were highest among 20-24 year old women (5.5% tested in 2004) followed by 25 to 34 year old women (3.7% tested in 2004). 0.5% of registered 16 to 24 year old women were diagnosed with CT in 2004. Three-quarters of patients with a recorded CT diagnosis had had an appropriate prescription issued in 2004, a proportion which increased from 1990 along with a decrease in referrals to genitourinary medicine. In 2004, general practitioners treated 25.0% of all recorded CT diagnoses in females and 5.1% of those in males. CONCLUSIONS: Testing for and diagnostic episodes of CT in primary care have increased since 1990. Testing continues disproportionately to target women over 24. Extremely low testing rates of testing in men, together with high positivity, demonstrate a missed opportunity for CT diagnosis and contact tracing in general practice.
History
Publication status
- Published
Journal
Sexually Transmitted InfectionsISSN
1368-4973Publisher
BMJ Publishing GroupExternal DOI
Volume
83Page range
310-313Department affiliated with
- BSMS Publications
Full text available
- No
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2007-03-30Usage metrics
Categories
No categories selectedKeywords
Licence
Exports
RefWorks
BibTeX
Ref. manager
Endnote
DataCite
NLM
DC