The incidence of urogenital Chlamydia trachomatis infections among patients in Kumasi, Ghana

Abstract

The incidence of urogenital chlamydia infections among selected patients in Kumasi, Ghana was evaluated using an immunofluorescent monoclonal antibody technique. Chlamydia trachomatis was identified in 4 of 110 patients presenting for prenatal care, 2 of 55 female patients with infertility and 6 of 15 males with acute urethritis. The findings demonstrate that C. trachomatis is a frequently identified pathogen among male patients presenting with symptoms of acute urethritis; however, the incidence of chlamydia infections among asymptomatic patients is relatively low.

PIP: The incidence of urogenital chlamydia infections among selected patients in Kumasi, Ghana was evaluated using an immuno-florescent monoclonal antibody technique. Chlamydia trachomatis was identified in 4 of 110 patients presenting for prenatal care, 2 of 55 female patients with infertility and 6 of 15 males with acute urethritis. The findings demonstrate that C. trachomatis is a frequently identified pathogen among male patients presenting with symptoms of acute urethritis; however, the incidence of chlamydia infections among asymptomatic patients is relatively low. Sites for the study were the University of Science and Technology and the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi. These findings suggest that C. trachomatis is an important pathogen in sexually transmitted infection in Kumasi, Ghana; isolation rates from this area are consistent with those reported from western countries. An asymptomatic carriage rate of 3.6% is similar to that reported from nearby Accra. The present study did not demonstrate an increased incidence of C. trachomatis infections among patients with infertility, as has been noted in other studies. However, the etiology of infertility in these patients was not fully evaluated and prior chlamydial infections might have occurred.