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Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Chlamydia and Gonorrhea Screening in the U.S.
- Source :
-
American journal of preventive medicine [Am J Prev Med] 2021 Sep; Vol. 61 (3), pp. 386-393. Date of Electronic Publication: 2021 May 19. - Publication Year :
- 2021
-
Abstract
- Introduction: This study evaluates the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on testing for common sexually transmitted infections. Specifically, changes are measured in chlamydia and gonorrhea testing and case detection among patients aged 14-49 years during the COVID-19 pandemic.<br />Methods: U.S. chlamydia and gonorrhea testing and positivity were analyzed on the basis of >18.6 million tests (13.6 million tests for female patients and 4.7 million tests for male patients) performed by a national reference clinical laboratory from January 2019 through June 2020.<br />Results: Chlamydia and gonorrhea testing reached a nadir in early April 2020, with decreases (relative to the baseline level) of 59% for female patients and 63% for male patients. Declines in testing were strongly associated with increases in weekly positivity rates for chlamydia (R <superscript>2</superscript> =0.96) and gonorrhea (R <superscript>2</superscript> =0.85). From March 2020 through June 2020, an expected 27,659 (26.4%) chlamydia and 5,577 (16.5%) gonorrhea cases were potentially missed.<br />Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic impacted routine sexually transmitted infection services, suggesting an increase in syndromic sexually transmitted infection testing and missed asymptomatic cases. Follow-up analyses will be needed to assess the long-term implications of missed screening opportunities. These findings should serve as a warning for the potential sexual and reproductive health implications that can be expected from the overall decline in testing and potential missed cases.<br /> (Copyright © 2021 American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1873-2607
- Volume :
- 61
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- American journal of preventive medicine
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 34020848
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2021.03.009