[Chlamydia trachomatis infection in the neonatal period: clinical and laboratory aspects. Experience of a decade: 1987-1998].
Chlamydia trachomatis infection is adquired by the newborn infant during the delivery, 25 to 50% of them may develop conjunctivitis and 10 to 20% pneumonia.


BACKGROUND
To verify the incidence of ocular infection by C. trachomatis in the newborn infants with conjunctivitis. To observe the association between ocular infection and intersticial pneumonia.-Study the epidemiological aspects and laboratorial methods of criterial diagnosis. CASUISTICS AND METHODS: We studied the newborn infants admitted in the intensive neonatal care with diagnostic of conjunctivitis and/or interstitial pneumonia during the period of ten years. The diagnostic methods were direct exam of etiologic agent in conjunctival material, X ray chest and serologic test by imunofluorescence method for IgG and IgM antibodies.


RESULTS
We studied the clinical characteristics of 20 newborns infants with chlamydial trachomatis infection: 15 (75%) were terms newborns and 5 (25%) pre-terms. We observed the predominance of infection in females (60%); pneumonia was observed in 15/20 (75%) and 12 of them had both: conjunctivitis and pneumonia. We did not observe significant association among type of delivery, age of the mother, number of partner and infection. Leukorrhea was present em 50% of the mothers The serologic test was positive in 100% of the newborn with pneumonia and none with conjunctivitis alone, and the direct exam in conjuntival material was positive in newborns with conjunctivitis. The incidence of C. trachomatis in the newborns admitted in this period with conjunctivitis were 17/100 (17%).


CONCLUSIONS
Chlamydia trachomatis is an important pathogenical agent and the research of it is essential in newborn infants with conjunctivitis and/or interstitial pneumonia even there were not risk factors for sexually transmitted diseases. The direct exam of conjunctival material and serologic test are very important to diagnosis.
Vaz
F A
FA
Unidade de Cuidados Intensivos Neonatal-Instituto da Criança do Hospital das Clínicas da FMUSP.
Ceccon
M E
ME
Diniz
E M
EM
D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003235:Conjunctivitis, Inclusion / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D017563:Lung Diseases, Interstitial / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors