Chlamydia retesting too low in young women: Aussie study
Most patients are asymptomatic and may not know they are reinfected, says Dr Stephanie Munari.
Sexual health doctors say chlamydia retesting rates in Australia are suboptimal, with just one in six young women being tested for reinfection within the guideline-recommended time frame.
In a new study, researchers — led by Dr Stephanie Munari from the Burnet Institute in Melbourne — looked at chlamydia retesting and repeat positivity rates in women aged 16-29 treated at more than 60 sites nationally.
STI clinical guidelines currently recommend testing for reinfection at three months following treatment.
But sentinel surveillance data from more than 8700 women who tested positive for chlamydia between 2018 and 2022 showed that just 16.2% had “timely” retesting at the 2–4-month mark.
