Prevalence of genital Chlamydia trachomatis in male clients of female sex workers in Melbourne

Purpose: Our aim was to develop a methodology to measure the prevalence of sexually transmissible diseases (STDs) in male condom-using clients of fema le sex workers in Melbourne, and to determine the prevalence of Chlamydia t rachomatis in this group. Methods: Discarded (used) condoms were collected by sex workers from nine l egal brothels across Melbourne during a one-week period in 1995. The semina l fluid samples were subsequently analysed for Chlamydia trachomatis. Sex w orkers who participated in the project provided daily tampon specimens whic h were also tested for C. trachomatis. Basic socio-demographic information was recorded by the sex worker for each client. Results: Approximately 2 per cent of specimens from clients and 2.5 per cen t from sex workers showed evidence of chlamydial infection. We did not iden tify any sociodemographic association with Chlamydia trachomatis infection. Conclusions: The study was the first study in Australia to collect samples for STD testing from the clients of sex workers, independent of presentatio n at STD treatment services. It clearly shows the presence of genital Chlam ydia trachomatis in a presumably asymptomatic and multipartnered group of V ictorian men.