Diagnosis of chlamydial infection by direct enzyme-linked immunoassay and polymerase chain reaction in patients with acute follicular conjunctivitis.
BACKGROUND
Acute follicular conjunctivitis is a clinical diagnosis common to multiple etiologies, of which chlamydial infection requires specific antibiotic treatment.


OBJECTIVE
This prospective study was designed to evaluate Chlamydia trachomatis as the cause of acute follicular conjunctivitis by two sensitive tests: direct enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR).


METHODS
Conjunctival scrapings from patients presented with untreated acute follicular conjunctivitis were examined by ELISA and PCR, and patients were followed up for prolongation of the disease course.


RESULTS
All 36 consecutive patients presented with acute follicular conjunctivitis were negative for Chlamydia trachomatis by ELISA and PCR. None of the patients had a prolonged course of more than 4 weeks or required treatment with systemic antibiotics as would be expected from chlamydial infection.


CONCLUSIONS
Chlamydia trachomatis was probably not responsible for the acute follicular conjunctivitis in this series, and ELISA and PCR may not be cost effective for evaluation of acute follicular conjunctivitis due to chlamydial infection. Further evaluation of the cost effectiveness of these tests is required in chronic follicular conjunctivitis.
Bersudsky
V
V
Department of Ophthalmology, Western Galilee--Nahariya Medical Center, Israel.
Rehany
U
U
Tendler
Y
Y
Leffler
E
E
Selah
S
S
Rumelt
S
S
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D003235:Conjunctivitis, Inclusion / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011446:Prospective Studies
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D004269:DNA, Bacterial