Performance of a standardized interrogation to improve the screening of Chlamydia trachomatis infection

Aim. - To estimate the performance of a standardized interrogation toot facilitating the detection and screening of patients for the Chlamydia trachomatis infection, to estimate the prevalence of the infection in the family planning population studied. Method. - Prospective observational study, including the patients who had a consultation in the abortion center in the CHU of Poitiers. A sampling of the cervix was systematically carried out after the standardized interrogation in search of four clinical signs. The samples were analyzed by genetic amplification. Results. - Three hundred and eighty-six women were included and 56 (14.5%) infections were identified. The medical history questionnaire was relatively effective for 2 or 3 clinical signs. The positive predictive value (PPV) was respectively 34.8% and 53.8% and was very relevant for 4 clinical signs with PPV at 83.3% [Cl 95%: 74-93%]. Among the infected women, 48.2% had no clinical sign revealed by the medical history questionnaire. The presence of any clinical sign was strongly associated with the C. trachomatis infection (P<0.05). Conclusion. - The clinical signs find in the standardized interrogation are all significantly associated with the C. trachomatis infection. (C) 2014 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.