ABOUBAKR ELNASHAR

1. Treatment of
Chlamydia trachomatis
WHO Guidelines
Prof. Aboubakr Elnashar
Benha university Hospital, Egypt
ABOUBAKR ELNASHAR

2. EPIDEMIOLOGY
Results in:
substantial morbidity and economic cost
worldwide.
ABOUBAKR ELNASHAR

3. Incidence rate
most common bacterial STI
38 per 1000 females
33 per 1000 males
highest among
adolescent girls aged 15–19 years, followed by
young women aged 20–24 years.
Prevalence
4.2% for females
2.7% for males
Highest prevalence
 Americas
Western Pacific Region
ABOUBAKR ELNASHAR

4. Causative organism
Chlamydia trachomatis
three biovars of C. trachomatis
Each consisting of several serovars or genotypes,
cause
1. genital infections
2. LGV:
genital ulcer disease [GUD] that affects
lymphoid tissue
3. trachoma (eye infection).
ABOUBAKR ELNASHAR

5. CLINICAL PRESENTATION
Genital infections
Symptoms:
asymptomatic in
70% of women
50% of men
Symptoms of uncomplicated infection in women
abnormal vaginal discharge,
Dysuria
post-coital and intermenstrual bleeding.
Signs:
speculum examination
cervical friability and discharge.
ABOUBAKR ELNASHAR

6. Symptomatic men
urethral discharge
dysuria,
sometimes testicular pain.
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7. Complications
If left untreated
most genital infections:
rescolve spontaneously with no sequelae
may result in severe complications, mainly in
young women.
PID
ectopic pregnancy,
tubal factor infertility in women
epididymitis in men
The risk of complications may increase with
repeated infection.
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8. Infections at non-genital sites
common.
Rectal infection
rectal discharge
rectal pain
blood in the stools
asymptomatic in most cases.
Oropharyngeal infections
Pharyngitis
mild sore throat
symptoms are rare.
ABOUBAKR ELNASHAR

9. Chlamydial infection in pregnancy
Associated with
preterm birth
low birth weight.
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10. Infants of mothers with chlamydia can be infected
at delivery:
neonatal conjunctivitis and/or
nasopharyngeal infection
Symptoms of ophthalmia
ocular discharge
swollen eyelids.
Nasopharyngeal infection can lead to
pneumonitis.
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11. LGV
caused by
more invasive serovar of C. trachomatis
affects the submucosal connective tissue
can spread to regional lymph nodes.
commonly presents
unilateral, tender inguinal or femoral lymph
node
genital ulcer or papule
Anorectal exposure
proctitis, rectal discharge, pain,
constipation or tenesmus.
Left untreated, LGV can lead to rectal
fistula or stricture.
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12. LABORATORY DIAGNOSIS
Although C. trachomatis can be diagnosed by
Culture
1. direct immunofluorescence assays (DFAs)
2. laboratory-based and point-of-care
enzymelinked immunosorbent assays
(ELISAs)
3. nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs)
are strongly recommended due to their superior
performance characteristics.
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13. NAATs
highly sensitive and specific
can be used for a wide range of samples,
Urine
Vulvovaginal
Cervical
urethral swabs.
Several commercial NAATs using different
technologies are available.
allows
testing of non-invasive specimens, which can
be collected conveniently at the primary level
of care.
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14. Commercially available NAATs
not yet licensed for the diagnosis of extra-
genital samples
reliable for detection of chlamydial infection in
rectal and pharyngeal swabs.
Several commercially available tests for chlamydia
are combined with tests for gonorrhoea.
ABOUBAKR ELNASHAR

15. Treatment
Uncomplicated genital chlamydia
Recommended:
• azithromycin:
1 g orally as a single dose
• doxycycline :
100 mg orally twice a day for 7 days
Alternatives:
• tetracycline:
500 mg orally four times a day for 7 days
• erythromycin:
500 mg orally twice a day for 7 days
• ofloxacin:
200–400 mg orally twice a day for 7 days.ABOUBAKR ELNASHAR

16. Genital chlamydial infection in pregnant women
treatment with azithromycin over erythromycin.
treatment with azithromycin over amoxicillin.
treatment with amoxicillin over erythromycin.
Dosages:
• azithromycin:
1 g orally as a single dose
• amoxicillin
500 mg orally three times a day for 7 days
• erythromycin
500 mg orally twice a day for 7 days.
Remarks: Azithromycin is the first choice of treatment but may
not be available in some settings.
less expensive than erythromycin and since
it is provided as a single dose, may result in
better adherence and therefore better outcomes.ABOUBAKR ELNASHAR

17. For all neonates
topical ocular prophylaxis for the prevention of
gonococcal and chlamydial ophthalmia neonatorum
topical application to both eyes immediately after
birth:
• tetracycline hydrochloride
1% eye ointment
• erythromycin
0.5% eye ointment
• povidone iodine
2.5% solution
• silver nitrate 1% solution
• chloramphenicol 1% eye ointment.
ABOUBAKR ELNASHAR

18. Remarks:
Recommendations apply to the prevention of both
chlamydial and gonococcal ophthalmia neonatorum.
Cost and local resistance to erythromycin,
tetracycline and chloramphenicol in gonococcal
infection may determine the choice of medication.
Caution should be taken to avoid touching eye tissue
when applying the topical treatment
provide a water-based solution of povidone iodine.
DO NOT USE ALCOHOL-BASED POVIDONE
IODINE SOLUTION.
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