Prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae infections among pregnant women and eye colonization of their neonates at birth time, Shiraz, Southern Iran

Bahman Pourabbas,Mozhgan Shahian,Jalal Mardaneh,Abdolvahab Alborzi,Zahra Rezaei

doi:10.1186/s12879-018-3382-4

Abstract

BackgroundChlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae are the two common transmissible pathogens from pregnant women to their neonates. Given the lack of routine screening and treatment of pregnant women in some areas, the possibility of transmission rises. This study seeks to determine the prevalence of C. trachomatis and N. gonorrhoeae in the pregnant women with no clinical symptoms and the vertical transmission rate to their neonates.MethodsThe study was conducted on endocervical and eye swab samples of 239 pregnant women and their neonates. Identification was based on PCR method.ResultsThe prevalence rates of C.trachomatis in women and neonates were 37/239 (15.5%) and 28/239 (11.7%), and for N. gonorrhoeae 3/239 (1.3%), 1/239 (0.4%), respectively. The vertical transmission rates to the neonates were 28/37(75.6%) for C. trachomatis and 1/3 for N. gonorrhoeae.ConclusionsIn the areas with a high prevalence of chlamydial or gonococcal infections, and in the absence of screening and treatment of the pregnant women, ocular prophylaxis with antibiotics is suggested as a part of routine neonatal care program for the prevention of chlamydial and gonococcal ophthalmia.

Highlights

Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae are the two common transmissible pathogens from pregnant women to their neonates
The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of C. trachomatis and N. gonorrhoeae in pregnant women admitted to the hospitals before delivery and respective vertical transmission rates to the neonates, using PCR method
C. trachomatis and N. gonorrhoeae are the most common causes of sexually transmitted infections leading to serious conditions in pregnant women and their neonates

Summary

Introduction

Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae are the two common transmissible pathogens from pregnant women to their neonates. This study seeks to determine the prevalence of C. trachomatis and N. gonorrhoeae in the pregnant women with no clinical symptoms and the vertical transmission rate to their neonates. The annual estimation indicates different rates of infection in various parts of the world, ranging between 1.9–30.6% in pregnant women [2] and 1.6–18% in the neonates [3, 4] for C. trachomatis and for N. gonorrhoeae 0.08–7% [2] and 0.06–0.4% [3, 5], respectively. One study on pregnant women revealed that 1.18% samples were positive for N. gonorrhoeae by PCR [11] Infection with these organisms can cause a range of serious problems in mothers and newborns and can be asymptomatic in a significant proportion of the affected individuals [12, 13]. C. trachomatis is the most frequent infectious agent accounting for 18% to 50% of all neonatal conjunctivitis and 3% to 20% of infantile

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