Interestingly, research suggests that chlamydia is unlikely to be passed from the throat to the vagina or rectum. As such, they can be run on urine samplesnot just urethral or cervical swabs. A randomized trial for the treatment of rectal chlamydia infection among MSM reported microbiologic cure was 100% with doxycycline and 74% with azithromycin (812). 2016;17(3):1083-8. doi:10.7314/apjcp.2016.17.3.1083, Fontenot HB. This test detects a chlamydia infection, the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the United States. That probably contributed to what is sometimes known as the hidden epidemic of asymptomatic STIs. Men with symptoms may have: Abnormal discharge from the penis. Many people who have chlamydia or gonorrhea don't have any signs or symptoms. In addition, all pregnant women who have chlamydial infection diagnosed should be retested 3 months after treatment. Although azithromycin maintains high efficacy for urogenital C. trachomatis infection among women, concern exists regarding effectiveness of azithromycin for concomitant rectal C. trachomatis infection, which can occur commonly among women and cannot be predicted by reported sexual activity. Data are lacking regarding use of NAATs for specimens from extragenital sites (rectum and pharynx) among boys and girls (553); other nonculture tests (e.g., DFA) are not recommended because of specificity concerns. Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. The most reliable way to prevent chlamydia or any STD is to not have vaginal, oral, or anal sex. We take your privacy seriously. NAAT tests multiple the genetic material ofbacteria (or in other cases, viruses) to positively identify the cause of an infection. A test can normally detect chlamydia within 1-2 weeks of exposure. Available from: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [Internet]. Prenatal screening and treatment of pregnant women is the best method for preventing chlamydial infection among neonates. At-Home Chlamydia Testing; [modified 2021 Nov 9; cited 2022 Mar 17]; [about 14 screens]. Getting a swab test done is the most accurate way to know whether you have oral chlamydia. Oral chlamydia is treated with antibiotics, just like genital or anal chlamydia. Among symptomatic patients, POC tests for C. trachomatis can optimize treatment by limiting unnecessary presumptive treatment at the time of clinical decision-making and improve antimicrobial stewardship. A published review reported that C. trachomatis was detected at the anorectal site among 33%83% of women who had urogenital C. trachomatis infection, and its detection was not associated with report of receptive anorectal sexual activity (813). STD risk and oral sex CDC fact sheet. J Intern AIDS Soc. OR A common misconception is that chlamydia is transmittable through kissing. Levofloxacin 500 mg orally once daily for 7 days. Most of the time, people with oral chlamydia do not have any symptoms. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. It used to be that STI testing, particularly for bacterial STIs, was very uncomfortable. It works differently than a bacterial culture. If gonorrhea is also present in other areas of the bodylike the genitals or rectumsymptoms for women may include: 1. 2015;10(7):e0132776. 2016;86(2):131-135. doi:10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2016.07.018, Singer M, de Waaij DJ, Morr SA, Ouburg S. CpG DNA analysis of bacterial STDs. That is great news for people who want to be tested for gonorrhea and chlamydia in a less invasive way. If more than one sample is taken, a new, clean swab will be used for each sample. Urine chlamydia tests and gonorrhea tests are a lot more pleasant than having to have your cervix (women) or urethra (men) swabbed and are quickly becoming standard practice. Urine testing is completely safe. For Infants and Children Who Weigh <45 kg: Erythromycin base or ethylsuccinate 50 mg/kg body weight/day orally divided into 4 doses daily for 14 days. February 18, 2022 0 279 Sbus Appraisal Of The Evidence Chlamydia Test Results Overview Urine specimens are somewhat less sensitive than vaginal and cervical specimens. In some cases, gonorrhea in the mouth may cause symptoms like: Sore throat. Because erythromycin effectiveness in treating pneumonia caused by C. trachomatis is approximately 80%, a second course of therapy might be required [833]. Per the CDC guidelines for chlamydial infections, an NAAT can be used for test-of-cure if performed 3 to 4 weeks after the end of treatment. Just diagnosed? Chlamydia is one of the most common STIs. In the absence of laboratory results in a situation with a high degree of suspicion of chlamydial infection and the mother is unlikely to return with the infant for follow-up, exposed infants can be presumptively treated with the shorter-course regimen of azithromycin 20 mg/kg body weight/day orally, 1 dose daily for 3 days. 4 This is appropriate when therapeutic adherence is in question, symptoms persist, or reinfection is suspected. At-home testing is an accessible way to get the answers you need. Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Urine tests are primarily used to detect chlamydia. A swab test. Urine testing makes it easier for people to undergo STI testing as part of their regular medical care. Test of cure to detect therapeutic failure (i.e., repeat testing 4 weeks after completing therapy) is not advised for nonpregnant persons treated with the recommended or alternative regimens, unless therapeutic adherence is in question, symptoms persist, or reinfection is suspected. Finally, you should ask how long the results will take to come back and whether the healthcare provider's office will call you if the results are negative. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. She utilizes 15 years of clinical experience in her medical writing. This accounts for why oral STDs often go undiagnosed and untreated. Research shows that this type of urine testing is particularly effective for males. It's also possible to test for these STIs using a urine test at home. You may need to avoid antibiotic medicines and vaginal douches or creams for 24 hours before your test. A 2015 review that examined 21 studies on the relative effectiveness of using different types of samples todetect chlamydia and gonorrhea found that: By and large, these results are relatively consistent across studies. Chlamydia and gonorrhea urine tests are widely available. A positive test result means you have been infected with chlamydia. DFA is the only nonculture FDA-cleared test for detecting C. trachomatis from nasopharyngeal specimens; however, DFA of nasopharyngeal specimens has a lower sensitivity and specificity than culture. Processes should be in place to ensure communication between physicians and others caring for the mother and the newborn to ensure thorough monitoring of the newborn after birth. Having partners accompany patients when they return for treatment is another strategy that has been used successfully for ensuring partner treatment (see Partner Services). 2023 Dotdash Media, Inc. All rights reserved. If you are a woman or a transgender or gender diverse person with a cervix (lower part of the uterus), you should: Regular chlamydia testing at least once a year is also recommended if you: The best testing schedule for you may be different than the recommendations. Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis. Because clinical presentations differ, all infants aged 13 months suspected of having pneumonia, especially those whose mothers have a history of, are at risk for (e.g., aged <25 years and those aged 25 years who have a new sex partner, more than one sex partner, a sex partner with concurrent partners, or a sex partner who has an STI), or suspected of having a chlamydial infection should be tested for C. trachomatis and treated if infected. 3 Estimates show that 1 in 20 sexually active young women aged 14-24 years has chlamydia. Extragenital chlamydial testing at the rectal site can be considered for females on the basis of reported sexual behaviors and exposure through shared clinical decision-making by the patient and the provider. You can also buy at-home collection kits to test for chlamydia and other STDs. This is the most common. Swabs can also be taken from the throat if there is a possibility of infection there. Or, you can order an at-home test kit online from Nurx. Recommendations: chlamydia and gonorrhea screening. You should not use an at-home test if you have symptoms of chlamydia or if your partner has chlamydia. Furthermore, treating their sex partners can prevent reinfection and infection of other partners. NAAT swabs can also be used on the vagina, cervix, or rectum. Read more for our picks. Atlanta: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Chlamydia-CDC Fact Sheet (Detailed) [reviewed 2021 Dec 31; cited 2022 Mar 17]; [about 8 screens]. Chlamydia testing can help you avoid lasting health problems and stop the spread of this disease. Persons who receive a diagnosis of chlamydia should be tested for HIV, gonorrhea, and syphilis. Have protected sex to help prevent the transmission of chlamydia bacteria. This is because chlamydia triggers an inflammatory response that draws white blood cells, called CD4 T-cells, to the site of the infection. A doctor can take a urine sample to test for gonorrhea. 5. Doxycycline 100 mg orally 2 times/day for 7 days, Azithromycin 1 g orally in a single dose Ask your provider whether at-home chlamydia testing is right for you. Follow-up of infants is recommended to determine if the pneumonia has resolved, although certain infants with chlamydial pneumonia continue to have abnormal pulmonary function tests later during childhood. Detection of C. trachomatis infection during the third trimester is not uncommon among adolescent and young adult women, including those without C. trachomatis detected at the time of initial prenatal screening (827). Three months after you finish treatment, you will need to be tested for chlamydia again to check for a new infection. Specimens for chlamydial testing should be collected from the nasopharynx. Dr. Christine Zink, MD, is a board-certified emergency medicine with expertise in the wilderness and global medicine. Mothers of infants who have ophthalmia caused by chlamydia and the sex partners of these women should be evaluated and presumptively treated for chlamydia (see Chlamydial Infection Among Adolescents and Adults). Data regarding the efficacy of azithromycin for ophthalmia neonatorum are limited. 2018;141(3):332-336. doi:10.1002/ijgo.12453. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2021;70(4):1-187. doi:10.15585/mmwr.rr7004a1, Lunny C, Taylor D, Hoang L, et al. The bacteria can be detected by testing a sample of fluid collected during an oral swab. PLoS One. White spots in the mouth. For a long time, research suggested that cervical and urethral testing were slightly more effective than urine testingfor STIs. The possibility of concomitant chlamydial pneumonia should be considered (see Infant Pneumonia Caused by C. trachomatis). Heres how my VR headset changed that. Observational studies have also demonstrated that doxycycline is more efficacious for rectal C. trachomatis infection for men and women than azithromycin (748,811). A chlamydia test is used to find out whether or not you have a chlamydia infection. Mothers of infants who have chlamydial pneumonia and the sex partners of these women should be evaluated, tested, and presumptively treated for chlamydia (see, Chlamydial Infection Among Adolescents and Adults). If retesting at 3 months is not possible, clinicians should retest whenever persons next seek medical care <12 months after initial treatment. 2018;24(12):1328-1332.doi:10.1016/j.cmi.2018.03.013, Lunny C, Taylor D, Hoang L, et al. Kenilworth (NJ): Merck & Co., Inc.; c2022. Human data reveal that levofloxacin presents a low risk to the fetus during pregnancy but has potential for toxicity during breastfeeding; however, data from animal studies increase concerns regarding cartilage damage to neonates (431). Swollen glands. Instead, C. trachomatis infection among neonates is most frequently recognized by conjunctivitis that develops 512 days after birth. Chlamydial infection is the most frequently reported bacterial infectious disease in the United States, and prevalence is highest among persons aged 24 years (141,784). The fluid is then tested for chlamydia. Burning sensation in the throat. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website. At-home STI testing. Clin Exp Dent Res. She utilizes 15-years of clinical experience in her medical writing. Chlamydia trachomatis; [cited 2022 Mar 17]; [about 4 screens]. Optimal urogenital specimen types for chlamydia screening by using NAAT include first-catch urine (for men) and vaginal swabs (for women) (553). The sample may be: Chlamydia often has no symptoms, so you may spread the disease without even knowing you have the infection. Cookies used to enable you to share pages and content that you find interesting on CDC.gov through third party social networking and other websites. She completed her medical training at Weill Cornell Medical College and residency in emergency medicine at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. Data are also limited regarding effectiveness of EPT in reducing persistent or recurrent chlamydia among MSM (123,133,134); thus, shared clinical decision-making regarding EPT for MSM is recommended. 2016;2016:1-17. doi:10.1155/2016/5758387. A positive test result means that you are infected with that STI and should be treated. Self-collected rectal swabs are a reasonable alternative to clinician-collected rectal swabs for C. trachomatis screening by NAAT, especially when clinicians are not available or when self-collection is preferred over clinician collection. Chlamydia of the throat feels similar to other throat infections and will likely include only a sore throat and maybe some redness.