Open AccessGenitourinary Symptoms Associated with Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae Infections in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Oman
Author(s) -
Zakariya Al-Muharrmi,
Richard Lau,
Aaisha AL-Balushi,
Alyazi Al-Saadi,
Zeyana Al-Habsi,
Ali Elgalib,
Samir Shah,
Maha Al-Fouri,
Bader Al-Rawahi,
Seif Al-Abri
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
sultan qaboos university medical journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2075-0528
pISSN - 2075-051X
DOI - 10.18295/squmj.8.2021.115
Subject(s) - medicine , chlamydia trachomatis , neisseria gonorrhoeae , dysuria , chlamydia , genitourinary system , tertiary referral hospital , public health , prospective cohort study , gynecology , abdominal pain , urethritis , retrospective cohort study , pediatrics , immunology , pathology , urinary system , microbiology and biotechnology , biology
Objectives: To determine the pattern of clinical presentations associated with Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae infections. Methods: A retrospective cohort study between 2015 - 2020 of 408 women and 89 men who were tested for these infections by nucleic acid amplification attending Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman. Results: Eleven infections were identified in women (11/408, 2.7%) and fourteen in men (14/89, 15.7%). Chlamydia accounted for almost all infections in women (10/11, 91%), commonly presenting with lower abdominal pain or abnormal vaginal bleeding. In men, urethral discharge/dysuria syndrome was the commonest presentation and chlamydia was identified in 8 men and gonorrhoea in 6; 80% of all infections were seen in patients ≤ 35 years. Conclusions: The relative prevalence of two common sexually transmitted infections among patients with genitourinary symptoms at a tertiary referral hospital are described. The pattern of their presentations will inform the design of prospective studies to improve surveillance and guide public health policy in Oman. The study highlights the need for a multi-sectoral approach involving all providers to enable comprehensive STI surveillance.
Keywords: Genitourinary Symptoms; Chlamydia trachomatis; Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Oman.