title: A prospective study of asymptomatic Chlamydia trachomatis in Barbadian women.
abstract: A prospective study to determine the prevalence of asymptomatic female genital tract Chlamydia trachomatis infection was performed on 167 women at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Barbados, West Indies and at a private clinic. The ELISA (Microtrak, chlamydia EIA, Syva, CA) method was used to detect Chlamydia trachomatis antigen. Nineteen (11.4% 95% CI 6.5-16.3) women were found positive. The efficacy of a single 1 gram dose of azithromycin given orally to 18 patients was tested after 4 weeks. One patient who was pregnant was given 500 mg erythromycin four times daily orally for 1 week. Only six patients (including the pregnant patient) reported for follow up. All six repeat swabs were negative for C. trachomatis antigen. The prevalence of 11.4% asymptomatic chlamydial infection in endocervical swabs in Barbadian women is in agreement with a previous study which reported a prevalence of 18.4% +/7.8%. Patient compliance was assured, using a single dose of azithromycin. It was found to be as effective as doxycyline and ciprofloxacin as reported by other workers.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine and Research, University of the West Indies, Barbados.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Attapattu
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Prussia
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Boyce
authors.forename: P N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Levett