STD: Chlamydia

STD:                        Chlamydia
Causative Agent:    Chlamydia Tranchomatis
Signs/Symptoms:

• Commonly produces no symptoms, suspicion raised if partner treated for nongonococcal urethritis (inflammation of the urethra);
• Heavy, gray-white vaginal discharges;
• Painful urination; and
• Positive vaginal culture using special chlamydial test kit.

Treatment:

• Amoxicillin (Amoxil)

Special Considerations:

• Screening for infection at first prenatal visit because it is one of the most common types of vaginal infection seen during pregnancy;
• Repeated screening in the third trimester if the person has multiple sexual partners;
• Doxycycline (Vibramycin) - drug of choice for treatments if the patient is not pregnant - contraindicated during pregnancy because of association with fetal long bone deformities;
• Concomitant testing for gonorrhea because of high incidence of concurrent infection;
• Possible premature rupture of membrane, preterm labor, and endometritis (inflammation of the endometrium0 in the post-partum period resulting from infection; and
• Possible development of conjunctivitis or pneumonia in neonate born to mother with infection present in the vagina.