TY - JOUR
T1 - A Narrative Review on Spontaneous Clearance of Urogenital Chlamydia trachomatis
T2 - Host, Microbiome, and Pathogen-Related Factors
AU - Klasner, Carson
AU - Macintyre, Andrew N.
AU - Brown, Sarah E.
AU - Bavoil, Patrik
AU - Ghanem, Khalil G.
AU - Nylander, Elisabeth
AU - Ravel, Jacques
AU - Tuddenham, Susan
AU - Brotman, Rebecca M.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2023 American Sexually Transmitted Diseases Association. All rights reserved.
PY - 2024/2/1
Y1 - 2024/2/1
N2 - Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) is the most commonly reported sexually transmitted infection in the United States. Untreated urogenital infection in women can result in adverse sequelae such as pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility. Despite national screening and treatment guidelines, rates continue to rise; because most infections are asymptomatic, the actual prevalence of CT infection is likely significantly higher than reported. Spontaneous clearance of CT in women (in the absence of antibiotic treatment) has been described in multiple epidemiologic studies. Given the serious consequences and high prevalence of CT infection, there is growing interest in understanding this phenomenon and factors that may promote CT clearance in women. Spontaneous CT clearance is likely the result of complex interactions between CT, the host immune system, and the vaginal microbiota (i.e., the communities of bacteria inhabiting the vagina), which has been implicated in CT acquisition. Herein, we briefly review current literature regarding the role of each of these factors in spontaneous CT clearance, identify knowledge gaps, and discuss future directions and possible implications for the development of novel interventions that may protect against CT infection, facilitate clearance, and prevent reproductive sequelae.
AB - Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) is the most commonly reported sexually transmitted infection in the United States. Untreated urogenital infection in women can result in adverse sequelae such as pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility. Despite national screening and treatment guidelines, rates continue to rise; because most infections are asymptomatic, the actual prevalence of CT infection is likely significantly higher than reported. Spontaneous clearance of CT in women (in the absence of antibiotic treatment) has been described in multiple epidemiologic studies. Given the serious consequences and high prevalence of CT infection, there is growing interest in understanding this phenomenon and factors that may promote CT clearance in women. Spontaneous CT clearance is likely the result of complex interactions between CT, the host immune system, and the vaginal microbiota (i.e., the communities of bacteria inhabiting the vagina), which has been implicated in CT acquisition. Herein, we briefly review current literature regarding the role of each of these factors in spontaneous CT clearance, identify knowledge gaps, and discuss future directions and possible implications for the development of novel interventions that may protect against CT infection, facilitate clearance, and prevent reproductive sequelae.
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U2 - 10.1097/OLQ.0000000000001905
DO - 10.1097/OLQ.0000000000001905
M3 - Review article
C2 - 38290156
AN - SCOPUS:85183720504
SN - 0148-5717
VL - 51
SP - 112
EP - 117
JO - Sexually transmitted diseases
JF - Sexually transmitted diseases
IS - 2
ER -