Abstract
BackgroundChlamydia trachomatis causes the most prevalent bacterial Sexual Transmitted Infection. In pregnant women, untreated chlamydial infections are associated with abortions, premature rupture of membranes, postpartum endometritis, low birth weight and transmission to the newborn. In Córdoba, Argentina, there is little knowledge about the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis in women in their third trimester of pregnancy, so, the aim of this study was to evaluate Chlamydia trachomatis prevalence and genotypes present in Cordovan pregnant women with different age and socioeconomic status.Methods and findingsDesign: prospective study.Settings: Women population from Cordoba city, Argentina.Population: Pregnant women having 35 to 37 weeks of gestation.Methods: Five hundred and nine cervical swabs were collected. Each sample was subjected to DNA extraction and PCR for Chlamydia trachomatis using primers NRO/NLO and CTP1/CTP2. Positives samples were sequenced to determine genotype. Main outcome measures: Demographic data of the patients were collected to detect a population at risk for this infection.ResultsA prevalence of 6.9% (35/509) for Chlamydia trachomatis infection was detected, with 32/295 and 3/214 from pregnant women with low or better economic resources respectively (p = 0,0001). Results showed a significantly increased rate of 11.6% (30/258) in women under 25 years compared with 2% (5/251) in patients over that age (p = 0,00003). Genotype E was the most prevalent.ConclusionsWith these results, we can say that pregnant women under 25 years old and low economic resources are one of the populations in which the screening programs of Chlamydia trachomatis should focus.
Highlights
Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis) is an obligate intracellular Gram negative bacterium causing the most prevalent bacterial Sexual Transmitted Infection (STI) throughout the world
Additional support was provided by Laboratorios LACE Sociedad Anonima in the form of salary for Susana Ruiz, but the funder did not have any additional role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript
We can say that pregnant women under 25 years old and low economic resources are one of the populations in which the screening programs of Chlamydia trachomatis should focus
Summary
Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis) is an obligate intracellular Gram negative bacterium causing the most prevalent bacterial Sexual Transmitted Infection (STI) throughout the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that annually some 357 million people get one STI include: chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis or trichomoniasis [1]. C. trachomatis infection presents asymptomatically in 70–75% of cases. C. trachomatis mainly affects women and adolescents younger than 20 years old. It has been postulated the immature cervix is more susceptible to C. trachomatis infection, so younger women are more prone to infection than older women [6, 7]. Chlamydia trachomatis causes the most prevalent bacterial Sexual Transmitted Infection. In Cordoba, Argentina, there is little knowledge about the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis in women in their third trimester of pregnancy, so, the aim of this study was to evaluate Chlamydia trachomatis prevalence and genotypes present in Cordovan pregnant women with different age and socioeconomic status.
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