Release Date: 2001
Summary of Recommendations / Supporting Documents
Rating: A recommendation.
Rationale: The USPSTF found good evidence that screening women at risk for chlamydial infection reduces the incidence of pelvic inflammatory disease and fair evidence that community-based screening reduces prevalence of chlamydial infection. The USPSTF concludes that the benefits of screening substantially outweigh the potential harms. (select Potential Adverse Effects of Screening for discussion of potential harms.)
Rating: C recommendation.
Rationale: The USPSTF found at least fair evidence that screening low-risk women could detect some additional cases of Chlamydia trachomatis, but concludes that the potential benefits of screening low-risk women may be small and may not justify the possible harms.
Rating: B recommendation.
Rationale: The USPSTF found at least fair evidence that screening and treatment of women at risk for chlamydial infection improves pregnancy outcomes and concludes that the benefits of screening outweigh potential harms.
Rating: C recommendation.
Rationale: The USPSTF found fair evidence that the benefits of screening low-risk pregnant women are small and may not justify the possible harms.
Rating: I recommendation.
Rationale: No direct evidence was found to determine whether screening asymptomatic men for chlamydial infection is effective for reducing the incidence of new infections in women. The benefits and harms of screening men cannot be determined, but the potential magnitude of benefits could be large if the effectiveness of screening men can be demonstrated.
Screening for Chlamydial Infection, 2001
Recommendations and Rationale (PDF File, 68 KB)
Summary of Evidence (PDF File, 137 KB)
Systematic Evidence Review (File Download; PDF Files Download)
What's New
Guide to Clinical Preventive Services, 2nd Edition
Screening for Chlamydial Infection, 1996
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U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF)