title: Prevalence of genital chlamydial infection in symptomatic and asymptomatic Jordanian patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To detect Chlamydia trachomatis infection among 230 patients, 130 with signs or symptoms associated with urethritis, and 100 asymptomatic patients, attending the Jordan University Hospital urology clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Routine urine examination and the leukocyte esterase test were done for each patient. C. trachomatis infection was detected using first-void urine specimens and a cryptic plasmid-based PCR technique specific for C. trachomatis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of chlamydial infection was 4.6% among symptomatic patients with urethritis. The difference in prevalence was statistically insignificant (P > 0.05) between males and females, as well as in relation to their marital status. Two-thirds of the Chlamydia-positive patients also had urine positive for leukocyte esterase.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The low prevalence of chlamydial infection in association with urethritis among Jordanian patients might be due to the conservative behavior of the Jordanian society towards free sexuality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Special Surgery-Urology, Jordon University Hospital, Amman, Jordon.
authors.forename: Ziad M
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Awwad
authors.forename: Arwa A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Al-Amarat
authors.forename: Asem A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Shehabi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002265:Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D005832:Genital Diseases, Male / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007597:Jordan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D014526:Urethritis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D014556:Urine / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: C021443:leukocyte esterase; D002265:Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases