Chlamydia Statistics

Chlamydia Statistics

Chlamydia Statistics

Chlamydia is actually the most commonly reported bacterial sexually transmitted disease in the United States of America. They are amongst the most prevalent of all STDs and, since 1994, have composed the most significant proportion of all STDs reported to CDC

The latest studies furthermore demonstrate the high prevalence of Chlamydia bacterial infections in the general U.S. population.

In 2008, 1,210,523 Chlamydia bacterial infections were reported to CDC from 50 states and the District of Columbia. Under-reporting is considerable due to the fact the majority of individuals with Chlamydia are not knowledgeable of their bacterial infections and do not seek diagnostic tests. Furthermore, diagnostic tests are not frequently done if patients are treated for their signs and symptoms.

An estimated 2,291,000 non-institutionalized U.S. civilians ages 14-39 are infected with C. trachomatis based on the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Women are often re-infected if their sex partners are not treated.

The increase in documented Chlamydia bacterial infections during the last 20 yrs demonstrates the expansion of Chlamydia screening activities, utilization of progressively sensitive diagnostic tests, and an increased importance on case reporting from providers and labs, and advancements in the information systems for reporting.

Chlamydia Statistics

• In 2008, 1,210,523 Chlamydia bacterial infections were documented to CDC from 50 states and the District of Columbia. This case count corresponds to a rate of 401.3 cases per 100,000 population, an increase of 9.2% compared with the rate of 367.5 in 2007.
• Over the past 20 years, from 1989 through 2008, the rate of reported Chlamydia infection increased from 102.5 to 401.3 cases per 100,000 population.
• In between 1999 and 2008, overall rates were comparable in the Midwest, West, and South. Rates have continually remained lowest in the Northeast.
• In 2008, Chlamydia rates per 100,000 population by state ranged from 160.3 cases in New Hampshire to 728.1 cases in Mississippi.
• In 2008, the overall rate of documented Chlamydia infection amongst women in all 50 states and the District of Columbia (583.8 cases per 100,000 females) was nearly three times higher as compared to the rate among men (211.1 cases per 100,000 males), likely reflecting a greater number of women screened for this infection.
• The lower rates among men also suggest that many of the sex partners of women with Chlamydia are not being diagnosed or reported as having Chlamydia. However, with the advent of highly sensitive nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) that can be performed on urine, symptomatic and asymptomatic men are increasingly being diagnosed with Chlamydia infection. From 2004 through 2008, the Chlamydia infection rate in men increased by 45.0% (from 145.6 to 211.1 cases per 100,000 males) compared with a 21.5% increase in women during the same period (from 480.6 to 583.8 cases per 100,000 females).
• Among women, the highest age-specific rates of reported Chlamydia in 2008 were among those 15 to 19 years of age (3,275.8 cases per 100,000 females) and 20 to 24 years of age (3,179.9 cases per 100,000 females). Age-specific rates among men, while substantially lower than the rates among women, were highest in the 20- to 24-year-old age group (1,056.1 cases per 100,000 males).
• In 2008, Chlamydia rates increased for all racial and ethnic groups. The rate of Chlamydia among blacks was over eight times higher than that of whites (1,519.3 and 173.6 cases per 100,000, respectively). The rates among American Indian/Alaska Natives (808.8) and Hispanics (510.4) were 4.7 and 2.9 times higher, respectively, than that of whites.

Chlamydia Summary

Both equally occurrence and documented cases of genital Chlamydia trachomatis bacterial infections remain high across age groups, racial/ethnic groups, geographic locales, and both sexes.

The burden of Chlamydia presents itself higher amongst women, in particular those of younger age (15 to 19 and 20 to 24 years of age), however this may well be a reflection of screening recommendations. Racial distinctions also persist; case rates among blacks continue to be significantly higher than rates among other racial/ethnic groups.