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Clinical characteristics of Chlamydia trachomatis infections in a general outpatient department of obstetrics and gynaecology in the Netherlands
  1. C J Bax1,2,
  2. P M Oostvogel3,
  3. J A E M Mutsaers3,
  4. R Brand4,
  5. M Craandijk1,
  6. J B Trimbos2,
  7. P J Dörr1
  1. 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Medical Centre Haaglanden, Westeinde Hospital, The Hague, Netherlands
  2. 2Department of Gynaecology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Netherlands
  3. 3Department of Medical Microbiology, Medical Centre Haaglanden, Westeinde Hospital, The Hague, Netherlands
  4. 4Department of Medical Statistics, Leiden University Medical Centre, Netherlands
  1. Correspondence to:
 Caroline J Bax, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Medical Centre Haaglanden, Westeinde Hospital, PO Box 432, 2501 CK The Hague, Netherlands;
 c.bax{at}mchaaglanden.nl

https://doi.org/10.1136/sti.78.6.e6

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    Chlamydia trachomatis infections (CTI) are the most common sexually transmitted infections.1 CTI in women may cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and subsequently result in tubal factor infertility and ectopic pregnancy.2 Finally, CTI in pregnancy may cause neonatal conjunctivitis and pneumonia.3 Approximately 70% of the CTI in women are asymptomatic. The prevalence in asymptomatic obstetric and gynaecological patients in Europe ranges from 0.8 to 4.8%.4,5 Intrauterine manipulations such as curettage and a hysterosalpingogram in women with a CTI may cause PID as well.6 In the Netherlands there are no general policies for intrauterine manipulations. We would like to establish general policies to prevent intra-abdominal CTI. Therefore, information about the clinical aspects of CTI, patient characteristics, and data on the prevalence of CTI in an outpatient department of obstetrics and gynaecology are needed.

    METHODS

    From June 1996 to September 1997, new patients attending the outpatient department of obstetrics and gynaecology of the Westeinde Hospital were requested to participate in the study. Approval was obtained by the ethics committee. The Westeinde Hospital is an inner city hospital, with a high percentage of patients of different ethnic origin. After informed consent a questionnaire was completed and a gynaecological examination was performed.

    For detection of CTI two methods were used:

    1. A probe hybridisation assay from a urethral, an endocervical and an anorectal swab (PACE 2 assay) (Gen-Probe). Swabs were analysed within 24 hours according to Gen-Probe’s packet insert instructions.

    2. Amplification of CT-rRNA by transcription mediated amplification (TMA) in urine samples with the …

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