PREVALENCE OF Chlamydia trachomatis INFECTION IN URBAN POPULATION OF SAN LUIS, ARGENTINA

MARIN BARROSO EVELYN; GONZALEZ LE; DELUIGI MF; TOLEDO ML; AMPUERO VE; ALEGRE NV; LAPIERRE AV

Mendoza

Congreso; XXXIV REUNIÓN CIENTIFICA ANUAL DE LA SOCIEDAD DE BIOLOGÍA DE CUYO; 2016

Infection with Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) is an important public health concern because it primarily affects women in reproductive age and has been associated with pregnancy complications, including decreased fertility and chronic pelvic pain. To date, there have been few reports on the epidemiology of CT in Latin America. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of CT infection among urban population in San Luis, Argentina. Between May 2014 and July 2016, 315 women were recruited from a private laboratory of clinical analysis in San Luis. Women with age between 17-60 were involved in this study. All participants gave their written informed consent. Vaginal swabs collected from women were evaluated using one-step Immununoassay based on the immunochromatographic sandwich principle. Among the 315 women, the overall prevalence of chlamydial infection was 142/315 or 45,08 %. Prevalence of CT infection varied according to age of participants: the highest prevalence was in the age group (30?40 years), which comprised 52.11%.The mean of prevalence of infection in women was 32,13±7.26 years and it decreased substantially with increasing age, between 17-29 years old 35.91%, 41-60 year old 11.97%. The majority of participants with laboratory-diagnosed CT infection were asymptomatic. Among the 142 women infected with CT, 73/142 (51.41%), reported ?no genitourinary symptoms during last six months?. In this study, the association between CT, vaginal candidiasis and GAMM complex was 42/142 (29.58%). The prevalence among young women was especially high and deserves attention, given the amount of asymptomatic infection and the adverse health effects known to be associated with untreated CT infection.