Chlamydia and LGV guide: Prevention and control

On this page

• General Sexually transmitted and blood-borne infection (STBBI) prevention and control
• Prevention and control of C. trachomatis
• References

General Sexually transmitted and blood-borne infection (STBBI) prevention and control

Effective prevention strategies can reduce the impact of STBBI.

Encouraging the use of barrier devices, facilitating safer substance use practices^{Footnote 1 Footnote 2}, and offering vaccinations and other biomedical prevention strategies (e.g., HIV pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis (HIV PrEP/ HIV PEP), doxycycline prophylaxis) are components of comprehensive STBBI prevention services.

Healthcare providers should offer STBBI screening as part of their clinical prevention and control strategies. Since many STBBIs are frequently asymptomatic and can lead to serious complications if left undiagnosed and untreated, offer STBBI screening in the course of routine medical care, with special attention to those with risk factors. Normalizing screening in this way can reduce barriers to screening/testing and stigma associated with STBBI.

Motivational interviewing may be used to identify barriers to prevention practices and the means to overcome them.

Partner notification has public health benefits (e.g. disease surveillance and control), can prevent complications for partner(s), and reduces the risk of reinfection for the index case.

Prevention and control of C. trachomatis

Measures to prevent and control the transmission of C. trachomatis include counselling, consideration of prophylactic doxycycline, prompt diagnosis and treatment of the person and their sexual partners.

For current recommendations about the prophylactic use of doxycycline for the prevention of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis, refer to the biomedical prevention page in the STBBI prevention guide.

Counsel people with suspected or confirmed C. trachomatis about:

• Consistent practice of safer sex (e.g. use of barrier methods for vaginal, anal and oral sex, cleaning toys prior to use and avoiding sharing sex toys)^{Footnote 3}
• Possibility of reinfection
• Vulnerability to other STBBI
• The importance of STBBI screening
• Prevention of reproductive sequelae
• Potential for transmission to sexual partners
• The importance of treatment
• Avoiding sexual contact with untreated partners
• The benefits of partner notification

Counsel those with suspected or confirmed LGV about:

• Minimizing or avoiding sexual activities associated with mucosal damage which could facilitate transmission (e.g. fisting)^{Footnote 4}

C. trachomatis in infants can be avoided by screening and treating pregnant persons before delivery^{Footnote 5}.