Why retest for reinfection?

Reinfection dramatically increases the risk of complications, and about one quarter of women will be reinfected with chlamydia within four months of their initial infection.^1,2 Between 10-18% of men will be reinfected.³ 

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

Chlamydia Factsheet

For more patient resources, click below

Patient Resources

GP resources for retesting

For all GP resources, click below

GP Resources

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