Chlamydial infections

Infections due to Chlamydia are exceedingly important and common in emergency medicine, perhaps more so than any other single infectious agent. Recent studies have documented Chlamydia as a major cause of such commonly seen entities as urethritis, epididymitis, cervicitis, conjunctivitis, and neonatal pneumonia. Because clinical diagnosis and treatment is usually straightforward, and the already tremendous incidence of these "outpatient" infections is certain to increase, emergency physicians must become familiar with their diagnosis and management.