Overview
Topic status: We're looking for students to study this topic.
Chlamydia trachomatis is the most common bacterial sexually transmissible infection in the world, and the most notifiable condition in Queensland. The infection affects approximately 3% of sexually active young adults, the great majority under 25 years of age, and if left untreated, has significant consequences for female fertility. Fortunately it is easily treated, with the antibiotic azithromycin, but many infections remain undetected because of its asymptomatic nature.
Understanding the time taken for antibiotic treatment to effectively eradicate Chlamydia from the body is very important for public health and the clinical management of individuals. Currently there are varying practices with respect to advising patients of periods of sexual abstinence or condom use following treatment for sexually acquired Chlamydia trachomatis infections. Some clinics advise a "waiting" period of 7 days post treatment before resuming sexual relations, other clinics advise 3 days, whilst others suggest 1 day. These variations in post treatment waiting periods may have a significant impact upon public health and individual transmission in which treated individuals are liable to still transmit viable organisms to sexual partners. The "waiting period" is particularly significant for sex workers who are legally bound to restrain from working whilst in a period of "infectivity".
Aim 2: How does antibiotic treatment affect the development of immunity?
This study will involve working with staff at both the Brisbane Sexual Health Clinic and the Gold Coast Sexual Health Clinic. We will recruit 20 women who have just been diagnosed (by the standard PCR diagnostic assay) and treated (azithromycin) for Chlamydia and ask them to collect a urine sample at two time intervals over a 7 day period following treatment. These samples will be tested for Chlamydia by two methods;
To answer the immunity aspect of this project, we will also collect whole blood samples from these individuals. We will determine the immune response to Chlamydia at varying time points post treatment (up to 3 months) by the following approaches;
- Study level
- Honours
- Supervisors
- QUT External Dr Joe Debattista (Brisbane Sexual Health Clinic); Ms Brenda Henry (Gold Coast Sexual Health Clinic)
- Organisational unit
Science and Engineering Faculty
- Research area
- Contact
- Please contact the supervisor.
Professor Peter Timms
Professor Kenneth Beagley
