Audit of outcome following positive chlamydial test results in family planning clinics in Southampton

Abstract

Chlamydia trachomatis is increasingly being identified outside of genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics, concern has been expressed about the management of these patients. An audit was undertaken on a group of women identified with chlamydia in family planning clinics (FPCs) in Southampton. Forty-seven women were identified positive over a period of one year. Fifty-nine per cent attended a GUM clinic for treatment, 15% were treated at family planning clinics or by their general practitioners (GPs) but 26% remained untreated. The median time from knowing the positive result to attending GUM was more than 3 weeks in 27%. In those that attended GUM, 44% had an associated genital infection and 79% of named sexual partners were traced. As a result of the audit, a new protocol has been introduced in the family planning clinics for the management of women found to have chlamydia.