{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,26]],"date-time":"2026-06-26T07:06:09Z","timestamp":1782457569127,"version":"3.54.5"},"reference-count":31,"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2021,9,14]],"date-time":"2021-09-14T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1631577600000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2021,9,14]],"date-time":"2021-09-14T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1631577600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["link.springer.com"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["BMC Infect Dis"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2021,12]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title><jats:sec>\n                <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                <jats:p><jats:italic>Chlamydia trachomatis<\/jats:italic> (chlamydia) is the most diagnosed sexually transmitted infection in Belgium. Screening programs focus on young women, due to the implications of chronic asymptomatic infections for reproductive health. Thereby, the frequency of infections in men and older adults is underestimated. This study aimed to estimate the point-prevalence of chlamydia in the broader Belgian population, to inform evidence-based prevention and control strategies.<\/jats:p>\n              <\/jats:sec><jats:sec>\n                <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                <jats:p>We conducted two cross-sectional prevalence studies of chlamydia infection in the population of Belgium aged 16\u201359\u00a0years, 2018\u20132020. In the CT1 study 12,000 representative individuals were randomly selected from the national register and invited by letter to collect a urine sample at home. The CT2 study used urine samples collected through the Belgian Health Examination Survey. Molecular detection of chlamydia DNA was performed using Xpert<jats:sup>\u00ae<\/jats:sup> or Abbott Real-Time CT\/NG assays. Weighted estimated prevalence and 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated per gender and age groups of 16\/18\u201329, 30\u201344 and 45\u201359\u00a0years, relative to the general Belgian population. Data collected on sociodemographic variables and sexual behavior were used to identify potential risk factors for chlamydia infection through calculation of the odds ratio (OR).<\/jats:p>\n              <\/jats:sec><jats:sec>\n                <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                <jats:p>The population-wide weighted estimated prevalence was 1.54% (95% CI 0.78\u20133) in CT1 and 1.76% (95% CI 0.63\u20134) in CT2. We observed no statistically significant difference between men and women or age groups. Civil relationship status (OR\u2009=\u200914.1 (95% CI 1.78\u2013112), p\u2009&lt;\u20090.01), sexual intercourse with a casual partner (OR\u2009=\u20096.31 (95% CI 1.66\u201324.1), p\u2009&lt;\u20090.01) and &gt;\u20093 sexual partners in the last 12\u00a0months (OR\u2009=\u20094.53 (95% CI 1.10\u201318.6), p\u2009=\u20090.02) were associated with higher relative risk for chlamydia infection.<\/jats:p>\n              <\/jats:sec><jats:sec>\n                <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                <jats:p>Nationwide prevalence studies are relevant to assess the distribution of chlamydia and inform public health actions. The overall low prevalence and heterogeneous distribution of chlamydia in the general Belgian population needs to be considered for future strategies and potential harm of testing and treating asymptomatic individuals need to be taken into account. Effective case management should include appropriate treatment of symptomatic patients and partner notification, and prevention strategies should encourage behaviors such as condom use.<\/jats:p>\n              <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1186\/s12879-021-06646-y","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2021,9,14]],"date-time":"2021-09-14T11:02:47Z","timestamp":1631617367000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/springer_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":9,"title":["Prevalence estimates of genital Chlamydia trachomatis infection in Belgium: results from two cross-sectional studies"],"prefix":"10.1186","volume":"21","author":[{"given":"Natalie","family":"Fischer","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ilse","family":"Peeters","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sofieke","family":"Klamer","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Marion","family":"Montourcy","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Vicky","family":"Cuylaerts","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Dominique","family":"Van Beckhoven","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Irith","family":"De Baetselier","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Johan","family":"Van der Heyden","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Wim","family":"Vanden Berghe","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"297","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2021,9,14]]},"reference":[{"issue":"6","key":"6646_CR1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"385","DOI":"10.1038\/nrmicro.2016.30","volume":"14","author":"C Elwell","year":"2016","unstructured":"Elwell C, Mirrashidi K, Engel J. 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Ethical approval was obtained from the Ethics Committee of Antwerp University Hospital for Protocol Number ITG 1253\/18, Registration Number B300201939359, study UZA 2018\/573 and the Ethic Committee of Ghent University Hospital for project BC-08284. An informed consent was obtained from all participants and in case of illiterate or no education participants informed consent was obtained from parents or legal guardians.","order":2,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Ethics approval and consent to participate"}},{"value":"Not applicable.","order":3,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Consent for publication"}},{"value":"The authors declare that they have no competing interests.","order":4,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Competing interests"}}],"article-number":"947"}}