Infection and disease after perinatal exposure to Chlamydia trachomatis in Nairobi, Kenya.
A cohort of 49 infants exposed to maternal chlamydial infection and 40 nonexposed infants was studied after birth for a mean of 3.3 +/- 1.5 and 3 +/- 1.7 mo, respectively. Eighteen (37%) exposed infants had at least one positive culture for Chlamydia trachomatis, whereas C. trachomatis was not isolated from any of the nonexposed infants. Eighteen (37%) exposed infants developed ophthalmia neonatorum (n = 12) or infant conjunctivitis (n = 7), compared with six (15%) of the nonexposed infants (P = .04). Six (12%) exposed infants developed pneumonia, compared with none of the 40 nonexposed infants (P = .05). One infant in the exposed group died during follow-up. These results suggest that appreciable infant morbidity in Kenya may be associated with the high prevalence of maternal chlamydial infection.
Datta
P
P
Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Nairobi, Republic of Kenya.
Laga
M
M
Plummer
F A
FA
Ndinya-Achola
J O
JO
Piot
P
P
Maitha
G
G
Ronald
A R
AR
Brunham
R C
RC
D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis; D003371:Cough / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007630:Kenya; D008297:Male; D009878:Ophthalmia Neonatorum / Q000453:epidemiology; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies