Background: With noninvasive specimen types, males can be more easily screened for Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae infections. Long-standing universal screening of males attending New York City (NYC) sexually transmitted diseases (STD) clinics has yielded a substantial number of chlamydia cases. In 2005, screening was expanding to another large group at high risk for STD: males </=35 years old entering 6 adult jails.
Methods: Surveillance data and data from laboratory practice surveys were examined to evaluate changes in the reported burden of chlamydia and gonorrhea in NYC males over time. Citywide data for male chlamydia and gonorrhea cases were analyzed by report year and provider type (STD clinic, adult jail, juvenile detention, private-sector provider) from 2004 through 2006.
Results: In the first year of the adult jail screening program, the number of chlamydia cases among males </=35 years old reported from the jails increased by 1636%, surpassing all other providers in numbers of cases contributed, and increasing the citywide reported male chlamydia case rate by 59%. Adult jails reported 40% more cases than all 10 NYC public STD clinics combined. In 2006, adult jails continued to contribute a similar proportion to citywide male chlamydia case reports. In the first year of the jail screening program, there was an approximately 10-fold increase in the number of gonorrhea cases reported from jails.
Conclusions: Young men in adult jails have a large burden of chlamydial infection. Correctional screening and treatment programs present an important opportunity to improve the health of inmates and interrupt disease transmission.