title: Transmission of Chlamydia trachomatis among sex partners assessed by polymerase chain reaction.
abstract: The prevalence of Chlamydia infection in 95 sex partners was determined by both polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and cell culture. Thirty-three (18%) of 186 specimens were positive by culture and 61 (33%) were positive by PCR-EIA. PCR was positive in 75% (21/28) of male partners of PCR-positive women compared with culture, which was positive in only 45% (9/19) of male partners of culture-positive women (P = .053). For female partners of infected men, the difference was less marked. PCR was positive in 58% (21/36) of female partners of infected men versus culture, which was positive in 56% (15/36) of female partners of culture-positive men. The correlation of PCR between partners and sequence analysis of Chlamydia DNA showing the same sequence from sex partners of 7 couples support the accuracy of the assay. These data suggest that PCR is more sensitive than culture for detection of Chlamydia trachomatis, particularly for male partners of infected women.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases (Department of Pediatrics), Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Viscidi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bobo
authors.forename: E W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Hook
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Quinn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001483:Base Sequence; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000635:transmission*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012747:Sexual Partners
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial