High prevalence detection of Chlamydia trachomatis by polymerase chain reaction in endocervical samples of infertile women attending university hospital in Manaus-Amazonas, Brazil
de Lima Freitas, N.Suely.; Borborema-Santos, C.Maria.; Barroso Serrão das Neves, Dária.; Costa de Oliveira, C.Mara.; Dutra Ferreira, Júnia.Raquel.; Astolfi-Filho, S.
Gynecologic and Obstetric Investigation 72(4): 220-226
2011
ISSN/ISBN: 0378-7346 PMID: 22095307 DOI: 10.1159/000324798Document Number: 225494
We established for the first time the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis infection among infertile women in Manaus Amazonas Brazil using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. 106 women were studied at a public university hospital fertility clinic for infertility problems correlated with chlamydia infection. Social-economic and clinical information was obtained before medical examination to obtain samples for the amplification of C. trachomatis DNA plasmid. The prevalence of chlamydial infection among infertile women was 52.8, and 51.8% of the positive participants were older than 30 years of age (p = 0.8697). Of the 56 women positive for C. trachomatis, 31 (55.4%) had never given birth, while 9 (16%) had a pregnancy resulting in fetal death. Our findings also revealed that these patients had a low socio-economic status and high unemployment (p = 0.0274), and a significant association of 5% (p < 0.05) of chlamydial infection with family income. Due to the high prevalence of C. trachomatis, concerns about effects on reproductive health and fertility are undertaken. Therefore, we believe it is extremely necessary to implement large-scale PCR-based screening as part of routine clinical detection programs concerning preventive effects of chlamydial infection among this population.