205838 Repeat offenders: Chlamydia and Gonorrhea reinfections in a Southeastern Pennsylvania county

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Barbara Mancill, MA , Health Administration, Chester County Health Department, West Chester, PA
Eva Weru, MS , Public health department, West Chester University, West Chester, PA
Background

Chlamydia and Gonorrhea are the most common Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) nationally. Consequently, the management of these infections is of vital importance to state and county health departments.

Objective

Determine the reinfection rate for residents of a Southeastern Pennsylvania county with associated demographic risk factors and provide recommendations on STI management in a county health department setting.

Design

Retrospective study of data obtained from the Pennsylvaniaís National Electronic Disease Surveillance System (PA-NEDSS).

Participants

3774 county residents with confirmed Chlamydia and Gonorrhea infections from 2004 through 2008.

Measurements and Results

4344 confirmed cases of STI (Chlamydia=3659, Gonorrhea=685) were analyzed for the 2004-2008 period. 10.5% of patients had one or more reinfections (11.6% Chlamydia and 5.2% Gonorrhea), with a significant difference between male and female reinfections (Chlamydia p<0.0001 and Gonorrhea p<0.0264). The odds of female Chlamydia reinfection was twice that of males and the odds of male Gonorrhea reinfection was twice that of females. There was a significant difference in age of those reinfected with Chlamydia (p=<0.0001) with the 0-19 age group being nearly twice as likely to be reinfected as those between the ages of 20-24.

Limitations

Because the data is specific to a particular region, the results may not be generalizable.

Conclusions/Recommendations

Practitioners can influence the likelihood of reinfection for those below age 25 by encouraging repeated screening, partner treatment, and providing rigorous education about long-term effects of STI and STI transmission.

Learning Objectives:
1) Identify populations with the highest and the lowest rates of Chlamydia and Gonorrhea reinfection. 2) Discuss the need for partner treatment, STI education, and retesting. 3)Explain impact of reinfection on STI rates.

Keywords: STD, Infectious Diseases

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: because i have 8 years of experience analyzing STD data in my current role with the Chester County health department.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infection Epidemiology Poster Session
See more of: Epidemiology