Prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis infection, as evaluated by molecular biology methods

BACKGROUND. To determine the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis infection in our area by molecular methods. METHODS. We describe the combined results of three studies carried out in the city of Barcelona including a total of 408 women considered to be at high risk for acquiring asexually transmitted disease (STD). The first study was performed in 94 women attended at a public STD clinic located downtown, the second in 112 women attended at the Hospital Clinic and the third in 202 women attended at Hospital Vall d'Hebron (both third-level hospitals). In the first and third study endocervical exudate was tested with a PCR technique, and in the second study LCR was performed in 20-ml urine samples. RESULTS. Chlamydia trachomatis was detected in 1 woman in the first study, in no women in the second and in 3 women in the third. The prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis infection detected in the three studies using molecular biology techniques was 1.06%, 0% and 1.48% respectively, giving an overall prevalence of 0.98%. CONCLUSION. The prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis infection in our geographic area is surprisingly low.