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Matteelli A, Capelli M, Sulis G, Toninelli G, Carvalho ACC, Pecorelli S, Caruso A, Bonfanti C, Gargiulo F, Donato F. Prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection in adolescents in Northern Italy: an observational school-based study. BMC Public Health 2016; 16:200. [PMID: 26927226 PMCID: PMC4772514 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-016-2839-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2015] [Accepted: 02/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND We carried out a study to evaluate the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae genital infections in school-based adolescents in Northern Italy. METHODS Systematic screening for C. trachomatis and N. gonorrhoeae genital infection was performed in 13th grade students in the province of Brescia, an industrialized area in Northern Italy. Student filled in a questionnaire on sexual behaviour and provided a urine sample for microbiological testing. RESULTS A total of 2,718 students (mean age: 18.4 years; 59.1% females) provided complete data (62.2% of those eligible). Overall 2,059 students (75.8%) were sexually active (i.e. had had at least one partner), and the mean age at sexual debut was 16.1 years (SD: 1.4). Only 27.5% of the sexually active students reported regular condom use during the previous 6 months, with higher frequency in males than in females (33.8% vs 24.2%). No case of N. gonorrhoeae infection was detected, while C. trachomatis was found in 36 adolescents, with a prevalence of 1.7% (95% CI: 1.2-2.4) among sexually active students, and no statistical difference between females and males (1.9 and 1.4%, respectively). Inconsistent condom use (odds ratio, OR = 5.5) and having had more than one sexual partner during the previous 6 months (OR = 6.8) were associated with an increased risk of Chlamydia infection at multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION The prevalence of C. trachomatis infection among sexually active adolescents in Northern Italy was low, despite a high proportion of students who engage in risky sexual behaviour. No cases of N. gonorrhoeae infection were identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Matteelli
- />University Department of Infectious and TropicalDiseases, University of Brescia, P.le Spedali Civili 1, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Michela Capelli
- />Post-graduate school of Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Giorgia Sulis
- />University Department of Infectious and TropicalDiseases, University of Brescia, P.le Spedali Civili 1, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Toninelli
- />Post-graduate school of Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Anna Cristina C. Carvalho
- />University Department of Infectious and TropicalDiseases, University of Brescia, P.le Spedali Civili 1, 25123 Brescia, Italy
- />Laboratory of Innovations in Therapies, Education and Bioproducts (LITEB), Oswaldo Cruz Institute (IOC), FioCruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Sergio Pecorelli
- />Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- />Laboratory of Microbiology, Spedali Civili General Hospital, Brescia, Italy
| | - Carlo Bonfanti
- />Laboratory of Microbiology, Spedali Civili General Hospital, Brescia, Italy
| | - Franco Gargiulo
- />Laboratory of Microbiology, Spedali Civili General Hospital, Brescia, Italy
| | - Francesco Donato
- />Unit of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - (on behalf of the Clamigon Study Group)
- />University Department of Infectious and TropicalDiseases, University of Brescia, P.le Spedali Civili 1, 25123 Brescia, Italy
- />Post-graduate school of Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- />Laboratory of Innovations in Therapies, Education and Bioproducts (LITEB), Oswaldo Cruz Institute (IOC), FioCruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- />Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- />Laboratory of Microbiology, Spedali Civili General Hospital, Brescia, Italy
- />Unit of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
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