title: Prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis in the pregnant cervix.
abstract: To determine the prevalence of infection and colonization with Chlamydia trachomatis in pregnant women of low socioeconomic status, 363 women (age range 15 to 48 years; median age 24) were screened. Cultures for C trachomatis were obtained prospectively. Chlamydia trachomatis was recovered from 16.8% of the patients. The incidence of infection ranged from 18.4% in the group age 15 to 19 through 13% in the group age 30 to 39, to 0% in the 40 and older group. Thus, in the population studies, C trachomatis was found more commonly in the younger age groups. The high isolation rates seen suggest that routine screening and treatment may be warranted to prevent spread of C trachomatis infections to sexual partners and neonates.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000382:microbiology; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002575:Uterine Cervicitis / Q000175:diagnosis*