Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Chlamydia and Gonorrhea Screening in the U.S.

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.

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.

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 associa

SUBMITTER: Pinto CN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8131393 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature