Journal of Women's Health Care
Open Access

Disscussion on Prevalence of women with Chlamydia and Gonorrhea.

Gokce Okwin^{* *}Correspondence: Gokce Okwin, Department of Pathology, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University Training and Research Hospital, Turkey, Email:

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Introduction

Infections with Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoea (GC) are the two most commonly reported sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 1.59 million cases of CT infections in 2016, representing a 4.7% rate increase, and 468,514 cases of GC infections, representing an 18.5% rate increase since 2015. This is significant because complications from these infections have severe health consequences, with adolescents and young adults bearing a disproportionate burden. CT and GC infections cause half of the estimated 2.5 million cases of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) reported to the CDC each year [1]. CT and GC infections, if left undiagnosed and untreated, can cause permanent reproductive organ damage, pregnancy complications, and neonatal infections. CT and GC both facilitate HIV transmission and have been linked to rising HIV transmission rates. CT infections have been linked to outbreaks of Lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV), a chronic infection of the lymphatic system, in men who have sex with men (MSM).

STIs are estimated to contribute $16 billion to national medical costs each year, and CT and GC are associated with $700 million in direct medical costs each year. The burden of these two infections is exacerbated by significant risk factors and social determinants of health. Income, racial discrimination, and access to health care all create barriers that limit access to screening, diagnostic, and treatment services, increasing the prevalence of these infections. The cyclical seasonality of GC affects its incidence as well [2].

Epidemiology

CT and GC are major public health issues in the United States. CT rates in women are twice as high as in men, and have risen by 6.2% between 2013 and 2016. 1, 2, 3 In 2016, there were 1,072,719 female cases compared to 522,870 male cases [3].

Chlamydia

Asymptomatic CT is common in both men and women, with up to 80% of women reporting no symptoms. 2, 3 CT infects the cervix n women, causing cervicitis; in men, CT causes urethritis. The incubation period for CT is unknown, and it is estimated that only 10% of men and 5%-30% of women with lab-confirmed CT will develop symptoms [4].

Antibiotic resistance

For several years, the CDC has been tracking trends in antimicrobial susceptibilities and resistance patterns. Resistance to multiple drugs, including penicillin, tetracycline, and fluoroquinolones, began in the 1970s. This surveillance data has been used to guide Gonococcal treatment recommendations in order to improve treatment efficacy and reduce the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance [5,6].

Conclusion

Seasonal GC trends, and the most recent guidelines for screening and managing GC and CT all have direct implications for NPs in a variety of practise settings. The prevalence and incidence of CT and GC, as well as the risk of transmission of other STIs such as HIV, make screening and treatment efforts critical.

References

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