74 Burden of Sexually Transmitted Chlamydia trachomatis Infections

Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis) infections are the most common bacterial sexually transmitted disease in the world, and therefore these infections constitute an enormous public health problem. Globally, over 90 million new infections occur annually and a higher burden of disease is found in resource poor countries, perhaps due to limited access to care and treatment. In developed countries, C. trachomatis infection is the most common reportable disease, and risk also varies along socioeconomic factors. Younger individuals have higher burden of disease due to a variety of factors including physiological, psychological, and structural reasons, and racial/ethnic minorities have a higher burden for reasons that are not entirely clear but likely to be multifaceted. Women bear a disproportionate burden of negative health consequences of C. trachomatis infections including pelvic inflammatory disease, chronic pelvic pain, and infertility. The cost associated with treating infections and their sequelae is substantial. Infection with C. trachomatis also contributes increased HIV transmission. Recent evidence of increasing C. trachomatis > prevalence has been reported, and this necessitates immediate efforts to better understand these trends in order to implement effective control measures. Continuing and improving existing control efforts are required to reduce the burden of C. trachomatis infections. List of Abbreviations: CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; C. trachomatis, Chlamydia trachomatis; HIV, Human Immunodeficiency Virus; LGV, Lymphogranuloma Venereum; NAAT, Nucleic Acid Amplification Test; PID, Pelvic Inflammatory Disease; STD, Sexually Transmitted Disease; STI, Sexually Transmitted Infection; UK, United Kingdom; US, United States