'Yes wee can' - a nurse-driven asymptomatic screening program for chlamydia and gonorrhoea in a remote emergency department

Abstract

Background A nurse-driven, urine-based screening program for Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamyida trachomatis was conducted in a remote emergency department targeting asymptomatic youth. Methods: Individuals who presented to the Emergency Department with non-genitourinary complaints between the ages of 16 and 34 were offered free opportunistic urinary testing for gonorrhoea and chlamydia. Results: In total, 178 eligible patients were offered screening, 65% consented for testing and 14 patients (12%) returned positive results, with 10 diagnoses of chlamydia, 9 of gonorrhoea and 5 with both. Discussion: Emergency departments are an underutilised interface between difficult to reach at risk youth populations and public health services.