Reporting of chlamydial infection--Massachusetts, January-June 2003.

Chlamydia trachomatis infection is the most commonly reported sexually transmitted disease (STD) in the United States. An estimated 2.8 million infections occur annually. In 2002, a total of 834,555 cases in the United States, including 10,914 cases in Massachusetts, were reported through the National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System (NNDSS). Chlamydial infection is most often reported in females, particularly those aged 15-24 years, reflecting a higher level of screening in females but also important risk factors. Although the majority of infections are asymptomatic, complications are potentially severe in women and include pelvic inflammatory disease, which can lead to tubal pregnancy, infertility, and chronic pelvic pain. Chlamydial infection during pregnancy can cause illness in the infant (e.g., conjunctivitis and pneumonia). Infection in men can manifest as urethritis and epididymitis. Timely, documented diagnosis and treatment of chlamydial infection are critical to prevent both complications and transmission. Since 1996, a progressive increase has occurred in the number of reported cases of chlamydial infection in Massachusetts, in part because of an increase in screening and use of more sensitive tests. This report summarizes an evaluation of chlamydial-infection reporting in Massachusetts during January-June 2003. The results underscore the need for improvement in both completeness and timeliness of reporting chlamydial infection in Massachusetts.