Background
Repeated C. trachomatis infections are common among young sexually active women. The relative frequency of re-infection and antibiotic treatment failure is undefined.
Methods
Adolescent women enrolled in a longitudinal cohort had behavioral and sexually transmitted infection assessment every 3 months, including amplification tests for C. trachomatis, ompA genotyping and interviews and diary entries to document partner-specific coitus and event-specific condom use. Repeated infections were classified as re-infection or treatment failure using an algorithm. All infections with treatment outcomes were used to estimate antibiotic use-effectiveness.
Results
We observed 478 infection episodes among 210 participants; 176 women remained uninfected. Incidence rate was 34 per 100-woman years. Of those infected, 121 had ≥1 repeat infections forming 268 episode pairs; 183 pairs had complete data and were classified with the algorithm. Of repeated infections, 84.2% were definite, probable or possible re-infections, 13.7% were probable or possible treatment failures and 2.2% persisted without documented treatment. For 318 evaluable infections, we estimated a 92.2% treatment use-effectiveness.
Conclusions
Most repeat chlamydial infections in this high incidence cohort were re-infections, but treatment failures occurred as well. Our results have implications for male screening and partner notification programs and suggest the need for improved antibiotic therapies.
Subsequent STI frequently follow an initial STI, but there is substantial variation in the causal organism. These data suggest the importance of comprehensive STI prevention programs for adolescents rather than organism-specific interventions.
The incidence of T. vaginalis infection is high among adolescent women; untreated infections may last undetected for 3 months or longer. Reinfection is common. Treatment with oral metronidazole is effective, and T. vaginalis DNA disappears rapidly after treatment.
The main objective of this study was to examine day-to-day associations of coitus, sexual interest, partner emotional support, negative mood, and positive mood among adolescent women. Diaries assessed partner interactions, sexual activity, substance use, and mood. Participants were 146 adolescent women who provided 28,376 diary days. Correlates of coitus on a given day included age, increased coital frequency in previous week, coitus on the previous day, partner support, increased same-day sexual interest, and decreased same-day negative mood. The data demonstrate complex associations of sexual interest, mood, partner interactions, and sexual activity. The findings extend understanding of the sexuality of adolescent women and have implications for a variety of interventions to reduce sexually transmitted infections and unplanned pregnancies.
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