OPH Updating Chlamydia Follow-up to Prioritize Higher-risk Infections
Ottawa Public Health (OPH) has updated its protocol for managing reports of positive chlamydia test results. This change in practice will reduce the number of forms physicians and nurse practitioners complete for chlamydia cases and will allow OPH to prioritize high-risk cases
Each year, OPH receives more reports of positive chlamydia test results than any other infectious disease. In 2023, OPH received more than 3,400 positive chlamydia results, representing an incidence rate of 313 cases per 100,000. Up until the end of 2024, OPH has been requesting additional information from ordering providers on each of these positive chlamydia results. OPH is now prioritizing follow-up of positive chlamydia results that pose the highest risk to public health, to provide timely public health follow-up and to reduce the reporting requirements and associated administrative burden to ordering physicians and nurse practitioners.
OPH is now focusing on chlamydia infections with a higher risk of complications and those representing a concern for public health. OPH will prioritize follow-up for individuals who:
- Are pregnant or have a partner that is pregnant;
- Are under the age of 16;
- Have rectal infection;
- Require assistance with treatment;
- Are not notified of the infection; or
- Require assistance to notify sexual partners.
To identify individuals at higher risk of complications or representing a concern for public health, OPH will fax a short form to ordering providers and ask that it be completed ONLY IF the patient is pregnant, under 16 years of age, has rectal infection or has an outstanding public health concern. No information is requested for individuals who do not meet these criteria.
We expect this change in practice will allow OPH to focus infectious disease case management on those at highest risk. Furthermore, we anticipate that this will significantly reduce the number of forms community practitioners complete for positive chlamydia results.
OPH will continue to highlight recommendations for chlamydia treatment and management in our communications to ordering providers, and we remain available if there are any questions about managing the infection. If you have any questions about chlamydia case management at OPH or feedback regarding this change, please contact the STBBI reporting line at 613-580-2424 ext. 12588.
Physician Resources
- Access publicly-funded medications to treat chlamydia and other STIs, or order free condoms for your waiting room, Ottawa Public Health.
- Canadian Guidelines on Sexually Transmitted and Blood-Borne Infections, Health Canada.