Jpn. J. Infect. Dis., 58, 41-43, 2005
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Short Communication
Chlamydia trachomatis Antigen Positivity in Women in Risk Groups and Its Relationship with the Use of Antibiotics
Fatma Sirmatel*, Nimet Sahin1, Ocal Sirmatel2, Ender Telli3 and Sukru Kececi4
Department of Infectious Diseases, 2Departmen of Radiodiagnosis and 3Department Gynecology and Obstetrics, Medical Faculty of Harran University, Sanliurfa, 1High College Nurses of Gaziantep University, 4Major of Parenthood Family Planning Center, Gaziantep, Turkey
(Received October 6, 2003. Accepted October 6, 2004)
SUMMARY: The present study examined the use of antibiotics
with respect to the rate of Chlamydia trachomatis positivity.
Our subjects were 282 sexually active Turkish females between
the ages of 15 and 42. Endocervical samples were investigated
in 60 women with pelvic inflammatory diseases (PIDs), 90 infertile
patients (IPs), 92 registered commercial sex workers (CSWs), and
40 intrauterine device (IUD) users. All samples were analyzed
using direct immunofluorescence test techniques for the presence
of C. trachomatis antigen, which was found in 12.7% of
our subjects, with positive results as high as 26% in patients
between 21 and 30 years of age. C. trachomatis positivity
was found to be 16.6% in PID patients, and 23.3% in IPs, and 5.4%
in CSWs; however, it was not found among IUD users. The rate of
positivity was highest in IPs; and lowest in registered CSWs (P
< 0.05), who are periodically examined for the presence of
sexually transmitted diseases, as required by Turkish authorities.
Interestingly, the usage of therapeutic or prophylactic antibiotics
such as tetracycline and ceftriaxon was found to be quite high
among IUD users (90% use of tetracycline) and CSWs (100% use of
both antibiotcs). Our results show that C. trachomatis
positivity in the southeast region of Turkey is not significantly
higher than that found in previous studies on sex workers of other
countries. Additionally, our results indicate that the use of
prophylactic antibiotics decreases the rate of chlamydial infections.