Chlamydia trachomatis infections in eastern Europe: legal aspects, epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment

Objectives: Knowledge concerning genital Chlamydia trachomatis infections in eastern Europe is scarce. Data on the legal aspects, epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of the infection have never been collected, summarised, and presented to the international scientific community. The aim of this st...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Sexually transmitted infections 2002-04, Vol.78 (2), p.115-119
Main Authors: Domeika, M, Hallén, A, Karabanov, L, Chudomirova, K, Gruber, F, Unzeitig, V, Pöder, A, Deak, J, Jakobsone, I, Lapinskaite, G, Dajek, Z, Akovbian, V, Gomberg, M, Khryanin, A, Savitcheva, A, Takac, I, Glazkova, L, Vinograd, N, Nedeljkovic, M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use
Azithromycin - therapeutic use
Chlamydia
Chlamydia Infections - diagnosis
Chlamydia Infections - drug therapy
Chlamydia Infections - epidemiology
Chlamydia trachomatis
Costs
Disease Notification - legislation & jurisprudence
Doxycycline - therapeutic use
Drug Costs
eastern Europe
Epidemiology
Europe, Eastern - epidemiology
Gynecology
Health Care Costs
Humans
Incidence
Infections
Original
Sexually transmitted diseases
STD
Syphilis
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Summary:Objectives: Knowledge concerning genital Chlamydia trachomatis infections in eastern Europe is scarce. Data on the legal aspects, epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of the infection have never been collected, summarised, and presented to the international scientific community. The aim of this study was to present the current situation on the main aspects of chlamydial infections in the countries of eastern Europe. Methods: Written questionnaires concerning legal aspects, epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of the infection were distributed among national STI operating administrators as well as researchers who had presented papers at earlier meetings of European chlamydia or STI societies. Results: Most of the countries have not legalised reporting of chlamydial infections and in those who have done so, the quality of the reporting system is poor. Contact tracing is mostly done on a voluntary basis. Reported chlamydia incidence varies from 21 to 276 per 100 000 inhabitants. The most commonly used diagnostic test remains the direct immunofluorescence test; however, some tendencies towards nucleic acid amplification are in evidence. Diagnostic services are paid for by the patient himself, while treatment in many countries is partially or completely covered by public insurance. Conclusions: This is the first report summarising data concerning the situation on C trachomatis infections in eastern Europe. The reporting system and diagnosis of C trachomatis infections remain suboptimal, which allows neither control of the epidemiological situation nor optimal treatment of the patients. The most urgent work currently necessary is the education of professionals and the general population.
ISSN:1368-4973
1472-3263
DOI:10.1136/sti.78.2.115