Evidence map›Paper›PMID 30144825›Full record

ArticleBMC infectious diseases2018

Not again! Effect of previous test results, age group and reason for testing on (re-)infection with Chlamydia trachomatis in Germany.

Alexandra Sarah Lang, Matthias An der Heiden, Klaus Jansen, Andrea Sailer, Viviane Bremer, Sandra Dudareva, Chlamydia trachomatis laboratory sentinel team

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC infectious diseases, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. German evidence- and consensus-based guideline on the management of penile urethritis.Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft = Journal of the German Society of Dermatology : JDDG · 2025
    Guideline
  2. Article
  3. Determinants and prediction ofFrontiers in public health · 2022
    Article
  4. BMJ open · 2020
    Article
  5. Trend Analysis of the Profiles of 12 Sexually Transmitted Disease Pathogens in the Republic of Korea in 2019.Inquiry : a journal of medical care organization, provision and financing
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Alexandra Sarah LangDepartment for Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany. LangAl@rki.de.
Matthias An der HeidenDepartment for Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany.
Klaus JansenDepartment for Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany.
Andrea SailerDepartment for Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany.
Viviane BremerDepartment for Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany.
Sandra DudarevaDepartment for Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany.
Chlamydia trachomatis laboratory sentinel team

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundInfection with Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) is the most commonly reported sexually transmitted infection in Europe. In Germany, Ct screening is offered free of charge to pregnant women since 1995 and to women < 25 years of age since 2008. For symptomatic individuals, testing is covered by statutory health insurance. Study results have shown that repeat Ct infection occurs in 10-20% of previously infected women and men. Our aim was to describe persons tested for Ct and to investigate the determinants of (repeat) Ct infection in women and men in Germany.

methodsWe analysed Ct test results from men and women tested between 2008 and 2014 in laboratories participating in the German Chlamydia trachomatis Laboratory Sentinel surveillance. Reinfection was defined as at least 2 positive laboratory tests within more than 30 days. We performed logistic regression stratified by sex and, for women, reason for testing to determine the effect of previous test results and age group on subsequent test results.

resultsIn total, 2,574,635 Ct tests could be attributed to 1,815,494 women and 123,033 men. 5% of women and 14% of men tested positive at least once. 15-19- and 20-24-year-old women tested positive at least once respectively in 6.8 and 6.0%, while men respectively in 16.6 and 21.2%. Altogether, 23.1% of tested women and 11.9% of tested men were tested repeatedly between 2008 and 2014. Among those who previously tested positive, reinfection occurred in 2.0% of women and 6.6% of men. Likelihood to be tested Ct positive was higher in women and men with a positive Ct test in the past compared to previously tested Ct negative, odds ratios 4.7 and 2.6 (p < 0.01) respectively. Odds ratios ranged by age group and test reason.

conclusionA history of Ct infection increased the likelihood of infection with Ct in women and men taking into account the result of the previous test. Health education, safer sex and treatment of partners are necessary for women and men who have tested positive to prevent reinfection and complications and to interrupt the chain of transmission. To identify potential reinfection repeat testing after treatment should be performed.

Indexed as

AdolescentAdultAge DistributionChlamydia InfectionsChlamydia trachomatisFemaleGermanyHumansMaleMass ScreeningPatient SelectionPregnancyPregnancy Complications, InfectiousRecurrenceRisk FactorsSecondary PreventionChlamydia trachomatisInfertilityReinfectionScreeningSentinelSexually transmitted infectionsSTI

Identifiers

PMID30144825
PMCPMC6109262

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.