Why Is This Important?

Infections caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis are the most frequently reported notifiable disease in the United States. Chlamydia infections in both men and women are commonly asymptomatic, yet screenings occurring mostly among females produce higher rates of reported infections. Females with chlamydia infection are at risk for developing pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and pregnant women with chlamydia can pass the infection to their infant during delivery, potentially resulting in pneumonia or neonatal ophthalmia. Both men and women may become infertile as a result of untreated chlamydia infections and susceptibility to more serious infections such as HIV also increases when an individual is infected with chlamydia.

Definition

Rate of newly reported chlamydia trachomatis infections by diagnosis date per 100,000 females aged 15-24 years

Data Sources

• Communicable Disease Reporting and Surveillance System (CRDSS); Sexually Transmitted Disease Program; Division of HIV/AIDS, STD and TB Services; New Jersey Department of Health
  (http://www.nj.gov/health/hivstdtb/stds/)
• Population Estimates, State Data Center, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development
  (https://www.nj.gov/labor/labormarketinformation/demographics/population-household-estimates/)

How the Measure is Calculated

How Are We Doing?

Chlamydia infections are increasing and the Healthy New Jersey 2020 target was not met. Even with a decline in testing due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the provisional number of infections (2,584) was still above the target.

What Is Being Done?

The [http://www.state.nj.us/health/hivstdtb/stds/ NJDOH Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Program] strives to prevent and reduce the effects of STDs in New Jersey through prevention, education, screening, treatment, and surveillance. In cooperation with federal, state, and local partners, the STD Program provides: * Free, confidential testing and treatment for STDs * Data and surveillance services * Partner notification services and technical assistance * Technical assistance for the provision of STD prevention and treatment best practices * Education and training services and materials * Program evaluation * Management of health care service grants

Available Services

STD Testing Services: [http://www.state.nj.us/health/hivstdtb/stds/locations.shtml]

More Resources

CDC Chlamydia Info: [https://www.cdc.gov/chlamydia/about/index.html]

Health Program Information

NJDOH Sexually Transmitted Disease Program: [http://www.state.nj.us/health/hivstdtb/stds/]