Prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis in pregnant women during the first trimester in a private institution in Córdoba.

Abstract

The presence of C. trachomatis in pregnant women can cause premature rupture of membranes, postpartum endometritis and preterm birth. Clinical diagnosis is more difficult among those who have an asymptomatic infection. know the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis in pregnant women in their first trimester and to detect if there are any factors associated with this bacterium. Prospective, descriptive, cross sectional and correlational study performed at Clínica Universitaria Reina Fabiola, in Córdoba, between October 2016 and April 2017. C. trachomatis was detected through the Real Time PCR technique in first void urine samples. 350 pregnant women were studied. The global prevalence was of 2% with a 13,3% in women under 25 years old (p< 0,001). A similar pattern was observed with respect to the educational level, with a higher prevalence on those who only had primary education, 18,2% (p<0.001); in women who presented a low gynecological sign or symptom 6,8% (p< 0,001) and in those patients whose sexual initiation was before 18 years old, 3,3% (p< 0,030). It is advisable to implement C. trachomatis screening as part of the pre natal screening in all pregnant women under 25 years old. Argentinian health care system should take this problem into account in order to achieve a rational control over the infections caused by this bacterium.