Chlamydia trachomatis infection in pregnant women hospitalised in the Institute of Mother and Child in Warsaw, Poland

Abstract

Chlamydia trachomatis infection is the most common sexually transmitted disease. It concerns both epidemiologists and clinicians as it is often asymptomatic and can cause permanent sequelae. Chlamydia trachomatis infection in women causes nongonococcal cervicitis, endometritis, urethritis, inflammation of the Bartholin's gland, acute and chronic pelvic inflammatory disease, Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome and can lead to Fallopian tube obstruction, infertility and ectopic pregnancy. During pregnancy it can cause chorioamnionitis, premature rupture of membranes, premature delivery, intrauterine growth restriction, low birth weight. post partum endometritis and also infection in the newborn.

Aim: To assess the prevalence and to describe risk factors (behavioural and clinical) of genital infection caused by Chlamydia trachomatis in the population of pregnant women attending the Obstetrics Clinic at the Institute of Mother and Child and to study the impact of this infections of pregnancy outcome.

Methods: We have tested 80 pregnant women attending the clinic of obstetrics and gynaecology of the Mother and Child Institute in Warsaw: The presence of C. trachomatis in cervical swabs was assessed using the Polymerase Chain reaction (PCR).

Results: We found two cases of C. trachomatis infection, which represents 2.5% of the tested population.

Conclusions: controversial data on the prevalence of C. trachomatis in pregnant women and its influence on pregnancy duration justify further investigations despite the observed law prevalence in this study. This will allow to determine the role and usefulness of routine screening for C. trachomatis in pregnant women in Poland.