Abstract
BackgroundThe clinical characteristics of Chlamydia trachomatis respiratory tract infections in Japanese neonates were investigated.MethodsClinical, laboratory and microbiological characteristics of five infants with pneumonia due to C. trachomatis in early neonatal period were analyzed.ResultsOnly C. trachomatis was identified in 4 infants. Both C. trachomatis and cytomegalovirus was identified in one. Wheezing, tachypnea and cyanosis were common in infants. Mothers of five infants had negative chlamydial EIAs at 20 weeks of gestation.ConclusionsWe identified five cases of C. trachomatis respiratory tract infections in early neonatal period with the possibility of intrauterine infection. Targeted screening, early diagnosis, and effective treatment of perinatal and neonatal chlamydial infections seems to be necessary
Highlights
The clinical characteristics of Chlamydia trachomatis respiratory tract infections in Japanese neonates were investigated
All nasopharyngeal specimens tested for C. trachomatis by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or EIA were positive
Diagnosis of C. trachomatis respiratory tract infections was made by antigen detection or PCR assay in nasopharyngeal swabs and by the presence of specific serum IgM antibodies by MIF
Summary
The clinical characteristics of Chlamydia trachomatis respiratory tract infections in Japanese neonates were investigated. Transmission of the organism from mothers to their infants generally occurs at the time of delivery with passage of the infant through the infected endocervix, the possibility of intrauterine infection at late pregnancy has been reported.[2,3] Gencay and colleagues [4] studied C. trachomatis infection in mothers with preterm delivery and intrauterine transmission of the infection to their offspring. Their results strongly suggest that mothers and their preterm babies may benefit from screening for active C. trachomatis infection
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