Epidemiology, diagnostics, and treatment of urogenital Chlamydia trachomatis infections

Chlamydia trachomatis is the most prevalent cause of sexually transmitted bacterial infections in The Netherlands. In women, it is an important cause of pelvic inflammatory diseases, tubal pathology, infertility, ectopic pregnancy, and chronic abdominal pain. Vertical transmission from mother to child during vaginal delivery may cause neonatal infection such as conjunctivitis and pneumonia. In men, this infection may cause urethritis and in rare cases chronic prostatitis and/or epididymitis. The infection is asymptomatic in 80% of women and 50% of men and therefore untreated in most cases. This results in a huge reservoir for transmission of the disease. Recent studies show an increase in the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis infections in The Netherlands, especially in Groningen and Amsterdam, a discovery based on focused case-finding. New and more sensitive tests make early detection and treatment of patients possible. This review will elaborate on the epidemiology, diagnostics, and treatment of Chlamydia trachomatis infections.