Chlamydial infections in selected populations in Jamaica

ABSTRACT

The importance of Chlamydia trachomatis as a cause of genital tract infection in Caribbean countries is largely unknown. Two hundred and sixteen cervical and urethral specimens were collected from patients with cervicitis and urethritis attending a Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) Clinic, a Gynaecology Clinic and a Family Planing Clinic in Kingston. Specimens were tested for chlamydiae by direct immunofluorescence and cell culture methods. They were also investigated for N. gonorrhoeae infections. Seventy-two of 138 patients (52.2 percent) at the STD Clinic were positive for chlamydiae; 28 of 50 ((56.0 percent ) from the Gynaecology Clinic and 11 of 28 (39.3 percent) from the Family Planning Clinic were positive. The prevalence of C. trachomatis (52.3 percent) was higher than that of N. gonorrhoeae (11.1 percent) in all groups. The results indicate that C. trachomatis is a common cause of genital tract infections in Jamaica(AU)