The prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis infection in pregnant women.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of our study was to estimate the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis infection, the risk factors, the impact of the infection on the course of pregnancy and the condition of neonates born from pregnancies complicated by Chlamydia trachomatis infection.

METHODS

558 pregnant women aged 18-42 yrs, between the 4th and 40th week of pregnancy recruited from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Medical Academy Lublin, and 10 men, partners of Chlamydia trachomatis infected patients were included in the study. All patients were examined using an immunoenzymatic method (MEIA). The ligase chain reaction (LCR) method was used only in cases of Chlamydia trachomatis detection with the use of MEIA method, in male partners of infected women and in patients with a cervical erosion and with a mucopurulent cervicitis. There were 64 women and 10 men who were examined using the LCR method.

RESULTS

Positive results of MEIA test were found in 10 women (1.8% of studied population). Among men, the infection by Chlamydia trachomatis was present in 9 cases (90%). There were no infections with Chlamydia trachomatis in the group of neonates born from infected mothers.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis infection was 1.8% in the studied group. The factors favourable for an infection are: young, unmarried patients, residents of towns or cities and changes in the cervix such as cervicitis or ectopy. In the cases of pathological pregnancy we should take into account Chlamydia trachomatis infections as a cause of abdominal pain or premature uterine contractions. The test towards Chlamydia trachomatis infection should be performed in pregnant patients to decrease the rate of pregnancy complications.