[Epidemiological study of Chlamydia trachomatis infection in a sample of women requesting voluntary termination of pregnancy, treated with rokitamycin].
BACKGROUND
Infection with Chlamydia trachomatis usually involves the cervix uteri, causing no symptoms, and may easily be unrecognised and untreated until troublesome symptoms arise, such as pelvic inflammatory disease, which can affect fertility and reproductive life. Therapies include the macrolide antibiotics, and in this class rokitamycin offers marked lipophilia, excellent intracellular penetration, and bactericidal activity at concentrations close to the MIC. The present study was therefore designed to establish the frequency of intracervical infection with Chlamydia trachomatis in women applying for termination of pregnancy, and to assess the efficacy and safety of this drug in this indication.


METHODS
Women aged 18-40 years were admitted for termination of pregnancy, with a positive cervical swab for Chlamydia trachomatis. The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and amendments. Patients were given one oral tablet of 400 mg rokitamycin in the morning, and one in the evening, for two weeks. Treatment started ten days before the termination, within 48 h of taking the swab. Partners were to receive the same treatment.


RESULTS
292 women requiring termination of pregnancy, on average at the 9th week of pregnancy, were assessed. Of these, 24 (8.2%), mean (+/- SD) age 27.1 +/- 6.1 years, range 18-39, with a positive cervical swab for Chlamydia trachomatis, were treated with rokitamycin; 22 of their partners were treated too. Forty days after the start of treatment 22 patients (92%) gave negative results; these were all the cases whose partners had received treatment. No adverse events were reported and the acceptability of the treatment was considered good or excellent in 91% and fair in 9% of the cases.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings confirm that rokitamycin is one of the most useful and effective macrolides for the treatment of infections caused by intracellular microorganisms; it is extremely well tolerated and has marked microbiological efficacy.
Carta
E
E
Associazione Italiana per l'Educazione Demografica, Genova.
Marletta
A
A
Artuso
A
A
Chiodi
S
S
Consoli
R
R
Fasce
V
V
Paccagnella
F
F
Palmonella
G
G
Spinelli
S
S
Guerini Rocco
C
C
D000032:Abortion, Therapeutic; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D015644:Miocamycin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D015644:Miocamycin; C033383:rokitamycin
Studio epidemiologico sull'infezione da Chlamydia trachomatis in un campione di donne che richiedono l'IVG trattate con rokitamicina.