%0 Journal Article
%T Chlamydia trachomatis Infection in HIV-Infected Women: Need for Screening by a Sensitive and Specific Test
%A Sonali Bhattar
%A Preena Bhalla
%A Sanjim Chadha
%A Reva Tripathi
%A Ravinder Kaur
%A Kabir Sardana
%J Infectious Diseases in Obstetrics and Gynecology
%D 2013
%I Hindawi Publishing Corporation
%R 10.1155/2013/960769
%X Reproductive tract infection (RTIs)/sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are recognized as a major public health problem, particularly due to their relationship with HIV infection. Early detection and treatment of Chlamydia trachomatis infection (CTI) among HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected women may impact heterosexual HIV transmission. A total of 120 participants were enrolled: 30 HIV seropositive women with symptoms of RTIs, 30 HIV seropositive women without symptoms of RTIs, 30 HIV seronegative women with symptoms of RTIs, and 30 HIV seronegative women without symptoms of RTIs. One endocervical swab was collected from all participants and CTI was detected by real-time PCR (COBAS TaqMan CT Test, v2.0). CTI was detected in 4 (6.67%) HIV-infected women and in 1 (1.67%) HIV-uninfected woman (OR 4.214; 95% CI 0.457¨C38.865). Vaginal discharge was present in almost half of HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected women; lower abdominal pain was present in 11 (18.3%) of HIV-infected and in 9 (15%) of HIV-uninfected women. This study showed that CTI is more prevalent among HIV-infected females as compared to HIV-uninfected females. As the use of real-time PCR is not feasible in most hospitals, efforts should be made to develop a simple, sensitive, and specific test to identify women with CTI for prevention of sequelae and HIV transmission. 1. Introduction Genital infection due to Chlamydia trachomatis is one of the most prevalent bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) [1]. According to the WHO estimates, globally 92 million new cases of C. trachomatis infection occur each year and about two-thirds of these cases occur in the developing world, where diagnostic and treatment services are scarce [2, 3]. Most epidemiological data on Chlamydia trachomatis infection (CTI) is from industrialized nations and reliable data from the resource poor developing nations is not available where the disease burden is concentrated. However, it is important to document laboratory-confirmed incidence and prevalence of CTI from the developing world as well. The available Indian data show a wide variation in CT prevalence with infection rates in Indian women ranging from 3.3% to 33% depending on the population sampled [4¨C13]. Infection with this agent is usually asymptomatic in up to 80% of women which makes diagnosis and detection all the more difficult. Left undetected and untreated the infection may evolve into pelvic inflammatory disease and may result in serious sequelae, such as ectopic pregnancy and infertility [14, 15]. CTI in women has also been linked to adverse
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/idog/2013/960769/