Screening of males for Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae infections at STD clinics in three US cities — Indianapolis, New Orleans, Seattle

Abstract

We assessed prevalence and risk factor data for men routinely screened for Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae in STD clinics in four US cities from May 1995–March 1999. Data were analysed separately for 'test-visits' (self-reported symptoms, clinical signs or sexual contact to an STD) and 'screen-visits' (STD screen only) for 32,595 men with 45,390 visits. Among test-visits in Seattle, Indianapolis and New Orleans, 8.7% (807/9285), 15.3% (1305/8519), and 10.1% (1551/15,296) of men were positive for C. trachomatis, and 10.2% (773/7543), 24.9% (2108/8478), and 30.4% (4746/ 15,629) for N. gonorrhoeae. Among screen-visits, 2.1% (88/4103), 7.3% (130/1790), and 5.6% (292/5183) of men were positive for C. trachomatis, and 1.8% (46/2576), 1.7% (31/ 1786), and 5.2% (274/5235) for N. gonorrhoeae. Positivity for screen-visits was particularly high among young men (15-24 years), and those reporting > 1 sex partner in the past 60 days. Substantial variation among sites in positivity warrants local determination of prevalence and risk factors to inform screening strategies.