Screening for chlamydia trachomatis in reproductive age group women by real time PCR assay in a semi-urban area of South India

Abstract

Background: Genital Chlamydia trachomatis presents as asymptomatic infection and hence if left untreated, leads to Pelvic Inflammatory Disease and Infertility. Centre for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) has recommended that screening of women for Chlamydia trachomatis under the age of 24 years at least once in a year, as mandatory. In a developing country like India, due to inadequate data and resources, it is not currently practiced as a mandatory screening procedure. Hence this study is aimed at estimating a reliable laboratory based data on Chlamydia trachomatis infection in reproductive age group women (18 to 45 years) attending a tertiary care hospital in a semi urban area of South India. Methods & Materials: A cross sectional study was conducted on 110 women attending gynecology OPD who has fulfilled the inclusion criteria over a period of one year from April 2014 to March 2015. After obtaining informed consent, under aseptic precautions, samples were collected from endocervix with the help of cytobrush and inoculated in a sterile aliquot tube containing 2ml of 99% ethanol for the detection of Chlamydial nucleic acid by Real time PCR. Results: 8.18% (9/110) showed positivity for Chlamydia trachomatis by Real time amplification plot analysis. All the infected population belonged to reproductive age group less than 30 years. Thermal profile of run of Real time PCR for Chlamydia trachomatis Amplification plot of Real time PCR assay for Chlamydia trachomatis Conclusion: Previous studies have proved that available diagnostic techniques like ELISA are not reliable indicators and nowdays molecular methods are the choice for an appropriate diagnosis. The proportion of Chlamydia trachomatis obtained in our study emphasize that health programmes should be implemented to screen the clinically silent Chlamydia trachomatis infection in women of reproductive age group less than 30 years to safeguard the reproductive health of women.