Organise retesting
Reinfection is common. Retest for reinfection in the index case at 3 months.
Supporting patients to retest for reinfection
Discuss the need for and importance of retesting in 3 months with your patient in their appointment for treatment and the process for doing so. You could also:
- Advise patients to book in a follow-up appointment at the time of treatment
- Schedule an SMS reminder for a follow-up appointment in 3 months
- Place the patient on a recall system
- Provide a signed pathology form for the patient to take to the laboratory for appropriate specimen collection.
Whatever option is chosen, reminders for retesting are useful to support the patient to return for their retest.
Patient resouces for retesting
For a patient factsheet about chlamydia, including retesting
For more patient resources, click below
GP resources for retesting
For all GP resources, click below
Key guidelines for chlamydia case management
For who and when to test, including in specific populations
RACGP Red Book Guidelines for Preventive Activities in General Practice (9th Edition, updated 2018).
For information about the entire chlamydia case management pathway, including retesting timeframes
Australian STI Management Guidelines (updated March 2018).
References
1. Davies B, Ward H, Leung S, et al. Heterogeneity in Risk of Pelvic Inflammatory Diseases After Chlamydia Infection: A Population-Based Study in Manitoba, Canada. J Infect. 2014;210(Suppl 2):S549-S55. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25381374
2. Walker J, Tabrizi SN, Fairley CK, et al. Chlamydia trachomatis Incidence and Re-Infection among Young Women – Behavioural and Microbiological Characteristics. PLOS ONE. 2012;7(5):e37778. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22662220
3. Fung M, Scott KC, Kent CK, et alChlamydial and gonococcal reinfection among men: a systematic review of data to evaluate the need for retestingSexually Transmitted Infections 2007;83:304-309. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17166889