Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this project was to implement a practice change in a clinic caring for underserved pregnant teens to align with national standard of care guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), which recommends routine third trimester chlamydia and gonorrhea screening in high risk populations.
Summary: Despite national recommendations, providers are under screening and missing opportunities to screen young, at risk women, especially in pregnancy. Only an estimated 59% of pregnant women in the United States (U.S.) are receiving chlamydia and gonorrhea screening (Blatt el al., 2012). Pregnant teens are at higher risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and infection during the third trimester is not uncommon. In an urban, teen pregnancy clinic in the Southwestern U.S., patients were screened for chlamydia and gonorrhea at the initial prenatal visit and not routinely again during pregnancy. For this project, a practice change was initiated to follow the CDC and USPSTF recommendations. Pregnant patients under the age of 25 were rescreened for chlamydia and gonorrhea infection during their third trimester on or after 35 weeks of gestation. As a strategy to ensure compliance with the practice change, providers conducted this screening along with the Group B Streptococcus test which was already routinely performed in the clinic.
Outcomes: At 10 weeks post-implementation, a chart review was completed to assess provider compliance with screening during the third trimester and the rate of positive results for chlamydia and gonorrhea. All patients (n=10, 100%) who were eligible for routine third trimester screening were screened appropriately. Patients were screened in the third trimester at a mean of 35.8 (SD=7.8) weeks gestation. One patient screened positive for chlamydia at the third trimester screening, resulting in a 10% positivity for chlamydia in the patient sample.
Implications for Women's Health: Chlamydia and gonorrhea are the highest reported STIs in the United States among persons 15-24 years of age (CDC, 2015). Screening by providers is important as these infections are often asymptomatic but are associated with adverse pregnancy and neonatal outcomes. Providers following national screening guidelines can help reduce these potential complications and improve maternal and infant health.
Sigma Membership
Non-member
Type
Poster
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
N/A
Research Approach
N/A
Keywords:
Sexually Transmitted Infections, Pregnancy, Teens
Conference Name
19th Annual NPWH Premier Women's Healthcare Conference
Conference Year
2016
Conference Location
New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Conference Host
Nurse Practitioners in Women's Health
Recommended Citation
Smith, Shauna; Allen, Jennifer; and Ilchak, Debra, "Third trimester screening for chlamydia and gonorrhea in pregnant teens" (2024). Group: National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women's Health (NPWH). 33.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/group_npwh/33
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Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Full Text of Presentation
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