Diagnostic des cervicites bactériennes

Abstract

Bacterial endocervitis or true cervicitis result from the damage of the columnar, glandular epithelial cells of endocervix by the two sexually transmitted bacteria, Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. The lack of specific clinical features of endocervical infections does not permit an accurate etiologic diagnosis without laboratory assistance. The conventional laboratory diagnosis of C. trachomatis et N. gonorrhoeae relies primarily on isolation in culture, but this procedure is not always easily achievable. More recently, nucleic acid amplification technologies using PCR have been developed, and are considered as more sensitive than culture for detection of C. trachomatis, particularly in asymptomatic endocervical carriage. Multiplex PCR detecting both pathogens from a single specimen would provide a cost effective way of screening symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals for C. trachomatis and N. gonorrhoeae.