CHLAMYDIA TRACHOMATIS SCREENING BY POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION AMONG ASYMPTOMATIC TURKISH WOMEN: A PREVALENCE STUDY

Introduction: Chlamydia trachomatis infection is the most common sexually transmitted disease and it represents a major public health problem in women of reproductive age. Chlamydia infection during pregnancy poses major health risks for both pregnant women and their fetuses. Most of the individuals who are infected by C. trachomatis are asymptomatic. This treatable disease can be detected easily and more precisely thanks to new developing diagnostic technologies. Application of screening programs in which highly sensitive methods such as nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT) could be beneficial in asymptomatic populations. Materials and methods: Genital Chlamydia trachomatis infection prevalence in asymptomatic Turkish women, who presented for initial prenatal visit or preconception visit at Anadolu Medical Center in western part of Turkey (Istanbul), between 2006 and 2011, was investigated by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Endocervical specimens collected from 541 women during their vaginal examination were analyzed by COBAS Amplicor Chlamydia trachomatis test. Two hundred fifty nine women were tested during the first visit of their pregnancy, while 282 women were tested during preconception visit. The median age of the women was 30 years, range 16 to 45 years. Results: Totally 1.85% (n= 10) of the patients were positive. Of the positive patients, 20% (n= 2) were pregnant, while 80% (n= 8) were in preconception period. Genital Chlamydia trachomatis prevalence was determined as 1.85% in asymptomatic Turkish women population. Conclusion: Chlamydia trachomatis screening in asymptomatic sexually active women should be performed by highly sensitive NAAT tests. Screening of women in reproductive age may reduce major health risks for pregnant women and their newborns; further investigations that will contribute diagnosis of the disease and the determination of national strategies should be performed.