Chlamydia is the most commonly reported communicable disease. Reported cases have increased every year save one since 1997, and over 15,000 reported cases occurred in Oregon during 2015. Chlamydia is the most common cause of tubal infertility and recurrent or persistent Chlamydia infection increases the likelihood that a woman will develop tubal infertility. Unfortunately, overwhelming numbers of cases prevents public health professionals from systematically interviewing patients or notifying and testing or treating their sex partners, leading to additional transmission and recurrent infection. If primary care practices fully implement these three effective strategies, they can play the lead role in controlling Chlamydia and its sequelae.
Through this webinar, participants will:
- Learn how to fully implement the most important activities primary care providers can do to control Chlamydia and reduce infertility
- Explore Chlamydia screening techniques
- Explore methods for recommending expedited partner therapy
- Learn the importance of re-testing everyone with a positive chlamydia screen
Presented By:
Sean Schafer, MD, MPH
Public Health Physician, Medical Epidemiologist
Oregon Health Authority, Public Health Division, HIV/STD/TB Program
Dr. Sean Schafer has been a Medical Epidemiologist and Public Health Physician with the Oregon Health Authority, HIV/STD and Tuberculosis Program (HST) since 2005. He manages HIV Surveillance, Medical Monitoring Project (supplemental surveillance for HIV cases in medical care), National HIV Behavioral Surveillance, and Human Papillomavirus surveillance in Oregon. He consults with Oregon’s HIV Prevention, STD Control, and Tuberculosis Programs. From 2003–2005 he was an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer with CDC, assigned to Oregon. Formerly, he was a family physician in California and worked as a staff physician in community health centers and as a faculty member with the UCSF-Fresno Family Practice Residency Program. In addition to his role with the HIV/STD and Tuberculosis Program, he has co-sponsored development of Oregon’s integrated electronic disease reporting system, worked on health information exchange, edited the Oregon Health Division biweekly publication, CD Summary, and worked on pertussis, intimate partner violence, Hepatitis A, and foodborne disease outbreaks.