Author/Authors :
Fatholahzadeh, B Departments of Microbiology - School of Medicine - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran , Bahador, A Departments of Microbiology - School of Medicine - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran , Haghighi Hasanabad, M Molecular and Cellular Biology Research Center - School of Medicine - Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar , Bazarjani, F Departments of Microbiology - School of Medicine - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran , Haghighi, F Department of Microbiology - Faculty of Public Health - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Abstract :
Background: There are more than 30 different sexually transmissible agents while the most common one is
Chlamydia trachomatis. In this prospective study, we decided to compare the prevalence of infection in symptomatic
and asymptomatic females.
Methods: Two hundred sixty urine samples of women in two groups (symptomatic and asymptomatic) were
collected from patients attending Mehrad Hospital in Tehran, Iran and tested by polymerase chain reaction.
Results: Thirty nine women in both groups were infected (14.99%), while 27/130 subjects were in symptomatic group
(20.76%), compared with 12/130 person in asymptomatic group (9.23%). No statistically significant difference was
found between two groups. Data analysis showed infection with C. trachomatis in symptomatic women to be significantly
associated with history of sexually transmitted infections, white blood cells in urine and epithelial cells in urine.
Conclusion: The present study recommends that targeted screening programs in high risk sexually active women
(like as individuals who had a history of STIs) are needed as part of case-finding strategies and treatment.
Keywords :
Chlamydia trachomatis , Prevalence , Women , PCR , Iran
