Prevalencia de infección cervical por Chlamydia trachomatis en mujeres de la Región Metropolitana / Prevalence of cervical infection by Chlamydia trachomatis among Chilean women living in the Metropolitan Región

Background: Chlamydia trachomatis is the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection (STI) worídwide. In women, chlamydia infections are 75 percent asymptomatic and can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, and ectopic pregnancy. Infants exposed to the microorganism at birth also have a high risk to develop conjunctivitis and pneumonía. Aim: To determine the prevalence of C trachomatis in women in the Metropolitan área of Santiago (Chile). Patients and methods: Cervical specimens were collected from 403 women attending three gynecological outpatient settings from Apríl 2003 to June 2005. These included one public hospital (n =100), a prívate medical center (n =268), and a clinic for adolescents (n =35). Mean ages ofeach group of patients were 35.6±8,2, 33.4±8.1 and 16.9±4.2 years, respectively. The diagnosis of C trachomatis was performed by the amplification byPCRofa 517-base pair segment of the cryptic plasmid on specimens extracted by a commercial procedure. Positive specimens were conñrmed by nested PCRs targeting the ompl gene. The presence of vaginal infections and its association with C trachomatis was investigated in a subset of 223 women ofthe prívate center. Residís: C trachomatis was detected in the cervix of 19 out of 403 women, resulting in a prevalence of 4.7 percent. The distribution of positive cases among different age groups was not significantly different. Women presenting with bacterial vaginosis had a significantly higher prevalence of C trachomatis infection (p <0.01). Conclusions: This study found a high prevalence of C trachomatis among gynecologic patients that should prompt preventive strategies.

Tratamiento y profilaxis antibiótica de patologias comunes en ginecología-obstetricia / Treatment and antibiotic prophylaxis of common pathologies in gynecology obstetrics

A literature review was performed looking for rational evidence for some common antibiotic prescriptions in gynecology and obstetrics. Conditions that deserve a therapeutic indications include asymptomatic bacteriuria , bacterial vaginosis or vaginitis during pregnancy, urinary tract infections and some recurrent urinary tract infections, postpartum endometritis, pelvic inflammatory disease, and listeriosis. In the same manner, prophylactic interventions with antibiotics are warranted before a cesarean section, abdominal or vaginal histerectomy, as well as during preterm labour with rupture of membranes or due to a presumed or demonstrated group B Streptococcus carriage. On the other hand, antibiotic use during preterm labour with intact membranes, while inserting or removing an intrauterine device or by an incomplete asymptomatic abortion, is not supported by scientific evidence. Finally, information is lacking for an antibiotic indication in fourth-degree perineal tear or during instrumental vaginal delivery.