[Chlamydia: diagnostic and treatment].
Chlamydia are obligate intracellular bacteria. Three species are considered human pathogens. Chlamydophila pneumoniae is one of the most common agents of atypical community-acquired pneumonia. Chlamydophila psittaci causes psittacosis, a severe zoonotic pneumonia transmitted by birds. Finally, Chlamydia trachomatis is the etiologic agent of trachoma and urogenital infections. The latter are commonly asymptomatic or paucisymptomatic. Thus, they may remain undiagnosed for years, leading to serious late complications such as salpingitis, ectopic pregnancy and infertility. Currently, the diagnosis of chlamydial infections is essentially based on molecular methods. Treatment should use an antibiotic with good intracellular bioavailability such as tetracycline, macrolides and new generation fluoroquinolones.
Jaton
Katia
K
Laboratoire de diagnostic moléculaire, Université de Lausanne CHUV, 1011 Lausanne.
Greub
Gilbert
G
D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D016993:Chlamydophila pneumoniae / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D002691:Chlamydophila psittaci / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000209:etiology; D018942:Macrolides / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011271:Pregnancy, Ectopic / Q000209:etiology
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D018942:Macrolides