Screening
may be used to combat chlamydia
Irish Examiner 09/01/2007
By Stephen Rogers
LEADING health researchers have been appointed to
examine all options — including a National Screening
Programme — to combat the massive rise in the number
of young people contracting chlamydia.
The Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) has been awarded
a two-year €500,000 contract by the Health Protection
Surveillance Centre to examine the best options
for more widespread testing for the infection which
accounts for one third of all sexually transmitted
infections.
The size of the problem is evidenced by the 19.6%
rise in the number of detected cases of chlamydia
to 3,353 cases. That does not include the likely
thousands who are unaware they have contracted the
silent disease which can lead to infertility and
even death in some cases.
The decision to commission the research was taken
by the HPSC on the back of a report by the chairperson
of the Sexually Transmitted Infections Subcommittee,
Mary C Cronin. In a 2005 report she pointed out
that a National Chlamydia Screening Programme (NCSP)
was being ‘rolled out’ in England, targeting young
men and women under the age of 25 who are attending
healthcare facilities not traditionally associated
with providing specialist sexual health services
including contraceptive clinics, general practices,
young people’s services, antenatal services and
infertility units.
“Screening
is also encouraged through innovative outreach strategies,
such as “pee in a pot” days at military bases, university
campuses, prisons and other non-traditional settings,”
she said. Aidan O’Hora of the HPSC said here in
Ireland the research to be carried out by the RCS
will examine what the best options are for introducing
screening of young people who, because they are
a healthy age group and consequent good health,
would not be in regular contact with medical services.
The RCS will examine what the implications would
be of introducing testing in a variety of settings,
whether they be primary hospitals, secondary settings
or community settings. Those implications will include
such areas as the financial cost of running such
a service, the burden on laboratories of providing
test results and the care needed for those infected.
The researchers have also been tasked with developing
a sex-education message for its clients. In women,
untreated chlamydia infection can spread into the
uterus or fallopian tubes and cause pelvic inflammatory
disease. This happens in up to 40% of women with
untreated chlamydia and can cause permanent damage
to the fallopian tubes, uterus, and surrounding
tissues. The damage can lead to chronic pelvic pain,
infertility, and potentially fatal ectopic pregnancy
(pregnancy outside the uterus). Women infected with
chlamydia are up to five times more likely to become
infected with HIV, if exposed.
