Important Facts for Chlamydia RatesDefinitionChlamydia cases reported in the state of New Mexico per 100,000 population.NumeratorNumber of cases of chlamydia reported to the state of New Mexico (and Centers for Disease Control) in New Mexico residents from all health care providers.DenominatorTotal PopulationData Interpretation IssuesRates are partly a function of how much testing is done - the more you test, the more you find - which is why females have roughly three times the number of reported cases as males. Testing increased throughout the 1990s, and the number of new cases jumped in 2004 due to new nucleic acid amplitude testing technology which is much more sensitive than previous culture tests.Why Is This Important?Chlamydia is the most common bacterial sexually transmitted disease. Even though symptoms of chlamydia are usually mild or absent, serious complications that cause irreversible damage, including infertility, can occur "silently" before a woman ever recognizes a problem(1). It is the leading preventable cause of infertility, and screening and treatment are the best means of preventing it.Evidence-based PracticesDespite an A recommendation from the U.S Preventive Services Task Force to annually screen all sexually active females under age 25, data from health plans shows that fewer than 50% of that group actually gets screened each year. Chlamydia is the leading preventable cause of infertility, and screening and treatment are the best means of preventing it. |
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