<i>Chlamydia trachomatis</i> as a Current Health Problem: Challenges and Opportunities
Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted bacterial infections (STIs) worldwide. It is caused by <i>Chlamydia trachomatis</i> (CT), which is an obligate intracellular bacterium. In some cases, it can occur in coinfection with other parasites, increasing the pathologic pote...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-07-01
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| Series: | Diagnostics |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/12/8/1795 |
| _version_ | 1797446116578426880 |
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| author | Rafaela Rodrigues Carlos Sousa Nuno Vale |
| author_facet | Rafaela Rodrigues Carlos Sousa Nuno Vale |
| author_sort | Rafaela Rodrigues |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted bacterial infections (STIs) worldwide. It is caused by <i>Chlamydia trachomatis</i> (CT), which is an obligate intracellular bacterium. In some cases, it can occur in coinfection with other parasites, increasing the pathologic potential of the infection. The treatment is based on antibiotic prescription; notwithstanding, the infection is mostly asymptomatic, which increases the risk of transmission. Therefore, some countries have implemented Chlamydia Screening Programs in order to detect undiagnosed infections. However, in Portugal, there is no CT screening plan within the National Health Service. There is no awareness in the general healthcare about the true magnitude of this issue because most of the methods used are not Nucleic Acid Amplification Technology-based and, therefore, lack sensitivity, resulting in underreporting infection cases. CT infections are also associated with possible long-term severe injuries. In detail, persistent infection triggers an inflammatory milieu and can be related to severe sequels, such as infertility. This infection could also trigger gynecologic tumors in women, evidencing the urgent need for cost-effective screening programs worldwide in order to detect and treat these individuals adequately. In this review, we have focused on the success of an implemented screening program that has been reported in the literature, the efforts made concerning the vaccine discovery, and what is known regarding CT infection. This review supports the need for further fundamental studies in this area in order to eradicate this infection and we also suggest the implementation of a Chlamydia Screening Program in Portugal. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T13:36:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f7b7662a0b1c483ab1c05a61d32a77bb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4418 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T13:36:36Z |
| publishDate | 2022-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Diagnostics |
| spelling | doaj.art-f7b7662a0b1c483ab1c05a61d32a77bb2023-11-30T21:12:18ZengMDPI AGDiagnostics2075-44182022-07-01128179510.3390/diagnostics12081795<i>Chlamydia trachomatis</i> as a Current Health Problem: Challenges and OpportunitiesRafaela Rodrigues0Carlos Sousa1Nuno Vale2OncoPharma Research Group, Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), Rua Doutor Plácido da Costa, 4200-450 Porto, PortugalMolecular Diagnostics Laboratory, Unilabs Portugal, Centro Empresarial Lionesa Porto, Rua Lionesa, 446 C24, 4465-671 Leça do Balio, PortugalOncoPharma Research Group, Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), Rua Doutor Plácido da Costa, 4200-450 Porto, PortugalChlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted bacterial infections (STIs) worldwide. It is caused by <i>Chlamydia trachomatis</i> (CT), which is an obligate intracellular bacterium. In some cases, it can occur in coinfection with other parasites, increasing the pathologic potential of the infection. The treatment is based on antibiotic prescription; notwithstanding, the infection is mostly asymptomatic, which increases the risk of transmission. Therefore, some countries have implemented Chlamydia Screening Programs in order to detect undiagnosed infections. However, in Portugal, there is no CT screening plan within the National Health Service. There is no awareness in the general healthcare about the true magnitude of this issue because most of the methods used are not Nucleic Acid Amplification Technology-based and, therefore, lack sensitivity, resulting in underreporting infection cases. CT infections are also associated with possible long-term severe injuries. In detail, persistent infection triggers an inflammatory milieu and can be related to severe sequels, such as infertility. This infection could also trigger gynecologic tumors in women, evidencing the urgent need for cost-effective screening programs worldwide in order to detect and treat these individuals adequately. In this review, we have focused on the success of an implemented screening program that has been reported in the literature, the efforts made concerning the vaccine discovery, and what is known regarding CT infection. This review supports the need for further fundamental studies in this area in order to eradicate this infection and we also suggest the implementation of a Chlamydia Screening Program in Portugal.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/12/8/1795<i>Chlamydia trachomatis</i> infectionmedical screeningdiagnosticvaccine developmentepidemiologytumorigenesis |
| spellingShingle | Rafaela Rodrigues Carlos Sousa Nuno Vale <i>Chlamydia trachomatis</i> as a Current Health Problem: Challenges and Opportunities Diagnostics <i>Chlamydia trachomatis</i> infection medical screening diagnostic vaccine development epidemiology tumorigenesis |
| title | <i>Chlamydia trachomatis</i> as a Current Health Problem: Challenges and Opportunities |
| title_full | <i>Chlamydia trachomatis</i> as a Current Health Problem: Challenges and Opportunities |
| title_fullStr | <i>Chlamydia trachomatis</i> as a Current Health Problem: Challenges and Opportunities |
| title_full_unstemmed | <i>Chlamydia trachomatis</i> as a Current Health Problem: Challenges and Opportunities |
| title_short | <i>Chlamydia trachomatis</i> as a Current Health Problem: Challenges and Opportunities |
| title_sort | i chlamydia trachomatis i as a current health problem challenges and opportunities |
| topic | <i>Chlamydia trachomatis</i> infection medical screening diagnostic vaccine development epidemiology tumorigenesis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/12/8/1795 |
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