Chlamydia trachomatis respiratory infection in Dutch infants

Arch Dis Child. 2009 Sep;94(9):705-7. doi: 10.1136/adc.2008.152066. Epub 2009 Apr 23.

Abstract

Chlamydia trachomatis is the most common bacterial pathogen causing sexually transmitted infections in Dutch adults. As prenatal screening for C trachomatis and treatment of pregnant women is not routine practice in The Netherlands, perinatal transmission of C trachomatis may therefore occur. The presence of C trachomatis in infants less than 6 months of age who presented with respiratory complaints to the Erasmus MC-Sophia hospital was evaluated. Respiratory specimens, primarily nasopharyngeal swabs, were tested for C trachomatis, respiratory viruses and Mycoplasma pneumoniae using PCR, viral isolation in cell cultures and direct immunofluorescence. C trachomatis respiratory tract infection was confirmed to be relatively common with detection in 10 of 148 (7%) infants tested. C trachomatis had not been tested for by the attending physicians, but was the second most frequently detected respiratory pathogen after human Respiratory Syncitial Virus, which was found in 41 (28%) infants.

MeSH terms

  • Chlamydia Infections / diagnosis*
  • Chlamydia Infections / transmission
  • Chlamydia trachomatis / isolation & purification*
  • Female
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical
  • Male
  • Mycoplasma pneumoniae / isolation & purification
  • Netherlands
  • Pneumonia, Mycoplasma / diagnosis
  • Pregnancy
  • Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human / isolation & purification
  • Respiratory Tract Infections / diagnosis*
  • Respiratory Tract Infections / microbiology
  • Respiratory Tract Infections / virology
  • Retrospective Studies