This Article  • Full text  • PDF  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in JAMA

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

To the Editor: Dr Turner and colleagues¹ report that an estimated 7.9% of adults aged 18 to 35 years in Baltimore, Md, have untreated gonococcal infection, chlamydial infection, or both. Previous studies, using different diagnostic technologies, have also suggested a concerning rate of asymptomatic chlamydia infection,^2-3 although these studies also demonstrated that the prevalence rates were quite different based on the populations chosen (eg, 27% in a women's prison compared with 2.7% in a community-based private practice).

It is clear that asymptomatic chlamydial and gonococcal infections represent important public health issues. Further work is needed to predict high-risk populations, and also to produce a cost analysis for the implications of more general testing (such as in public schools).

Booker T. Bush, MD
Healthcare Associates
Boston, Mass

1. Turner CF, Rogers SM, Miller HG, et al. Untreated gonococcal and chlamydial infection in a probability sample of adults. JAMA. 2002;287:726-733. FREE FULL TEXT 2. Holmes MD, Safyer SM, Bickell NA, et al. Chlamydial cervical infection in jailed women. Am J Public Health. 1993;83:551-555. FREE FULL TEXT 3. Phillips RS, Hanff PA, Holmes MD, et al. Chlamydia trachomatis cervical infection in women seeking routine gynecologic care: criteria for selective testing. Am J Med. 1989;86:515-520. FULL TEXT | ISI | PUBMED

To the Editor: Dr Turner and colleagues¹ reported high prevalences of untreated chlamydial and gonococcal infection in a population-based sample in Baltimore, Md. However, . . . [Full Text of this Article]