TY - JOUR
T1 - Management of genital chlamydial infections at termination of pregnancy services in England and Wales
T2 - Where are we now?
AU - LaMontagne, D. Scott
AU - Pimenta, Jeanne M.
AU - Fenton, Kevin A.
AU - Mallinson, Harry
AU - Hopwood, Jenny
PY - 2004/12
Y1 - 2004/12
N2 - Objective: To determine the range of policies and practices related to the management of genital chlamydial infection employed at termination of pregnancy services in England and Wales. Design: Cross-sectional descriptive study. Setting: England and Wales. Population Termination of pregnancy providers. Methods: Survey questionnaire administered to termination of pregnancy providers. Main outcome measures: Policies and practices for the management of genital chlamydial infection in women seeking termination of pregnancy with comparison to the national guidelines of the chief medical officer (CMO) and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG). Results: One hundred and thirty-eight (48%) practices responded to the survey, with representation across England and Wales. Policies for screening and/or treatment of chlamydial infection existed for 70% of providers. We found three practice patterns for the management of genital chlamydial infection among termination of pregnancy attenders: 70% of providers tested their own attenders prior to termination and treated if necessary; about 25% of providers administered prophylaxis without testing; and a small number of providers (<5%) neither tested nor treated attenders. Conclusion: These patterns may be the result of differences in the CMO and RCOG guidelines. Given the impact of untreated genital chlamydial infection in women attending for termination, consistent recommendations from the CMO and RCOG may encourage uniform practice for the management of chlamydial infection in this vulnerable population.
AB - Objective: To determine the range of policies and practices related to the management of genital chlamydial infection employed at termination of pregnancy services in England and Wales. Design: Cross-sectional descriptive study. Setting: England and Wales. Population Termination of pregnancy providers. Methods: Survey questionnaire administered to termination of pregnancy providers. Main outcome measures: Policies and practices for the management of genital chlamydial infection in women seeking termination of pregnancy with comparison to the national guidelines of the chief medical officer (CMO) and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG). Results: One hundred and thirty-eight (48%) practices responded to the survey, with representation across England and Wales. Policies for screening and/or treatment of chlamydial infection existed for 70% of providers. We found three practice patterns for the management of genital chlamydial infection among termination of pregnancy attenders: 70% of providers tested their own attenders prior to termination and treated if necessary; about 25% of providers administered prophylaxis without testing; and a small number of providers (<5%) neither tested nor treated attenders. Conclusion: These patterns may be the result of differences in the CMO and RCOG guidelines. Given the impact of untreated genital chlamydial infection in women attending for termination, consistent recommendations from the CMO and RCOG may encourage uniform practice for the management of chlamydial infection in this vulnerable population.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=10844243035&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2004.00207.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2004.00207.x
M3 - Article
C2 - 15663127
AN - SCOPUS:10844243035
SN - 1470-0328
VL - 111
SP - 1408
EP - 1412
JO - BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
JF - BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
IS - 12
ER -