Genital infections with Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Ghanaian women

Abstract

Women who attended the gynaecology clinic or were admitted to the postpartum ward of Korle Bu Hospital, Accra, Ghana were tested for infection with Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Eight (4.9%) of 162 gynaecological patients were infected with C trachomatis and five (3.1%) with N gonorrhoeae, and respective prevalences among 148 postpartum women were 7.7% (3/39) and 3.4% (5/148). Among 40 gynaecological patients who were not pregnant and whose principal complaint was of lower abdominal pain, 4 (10%) were infected with C trachomatis and none with N gonorrhoeae. Antibodies against serovars D, E, F, and G were common, and three typable isolates were serovar G. C trachomatis would appear to be more common than N gonorrhoeae in obstetric and gynaecological patients in Ghana.

PIP: The prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoea in women of Accra, Ghana was estimated by culturing 162 gynecology clinic patients and 39 postpartum inpatients at Korle Bu Hospital. Chlamydia endocervical specimens were frozen and tested in Seattle by culture. N. gonorrhoea was identified by sugar tests, and isolated and tested for beta-lactamase with a cephalosporin assay. Sera from 95 patients were tested for IgG and IgM antibodies to C. trachomatis. Chlamydia were isolated from 8 (4.9%) of the 162 gynecology patients and from 3 (7.7%) of the postpartum patients. N. gonorrhoea was isolated from 5 (3.1%) of the gynecology patients and from 5 (3.4%) of the postpartum patients. C. trachomatis serovars D, E, F and G were the most common. C. trachomatis was more common than N. gonorrhoea in these women, and accounted for 10% of gynecology patients complaining of lower abdominal pain.