Can Chlamydia Screening Prevent Pelvic Inflammatory Disease?

Chlamydial infection is among the most common causes of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID); thus, screening is highly recommended. To evaluate whether chlamydia screening can prevent PID, U.K. investigators recruited >2500 women (mean age, 21) at universities in London; participants provided self-collected vaginal specimens and were randomized to chlamydia testing and immediate treatment if positive (screened group), or to specimen storage and analysis 1 year later (deferred-screening controls). One year after recruitment, participants were asked by questionnaire whether they had had PID symptoms or treatment within the past 12 months.

Baseline prevalence of chlamydial infection was 5.4% in the screened group and 5.9% in the deferred-screenin…