title: Prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis and Mycoplasma genitalium in pregnant women of Sabzevar-Iran.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  As prenatal screening for sexually transmitted infections and treatment of infected pregnant women is not routinely performed in Iran and prevalence of two sexually transmitted pathogens, Chlamydia trachomatis and Mycoplasma genitalium, in Sabzevar (east of Iran) is unknown, we decided to perform this prospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred ninety-six urine specimens of pregnant women attending the specialized maternity hospital of the city were collected and tested by duplex PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 31 specimens were positive (15.81%) (27 Chlamydia trachomatis isolates, 13.77%; and 2 Mycoplasma genitalium isolates, 1.02%). Co-infection with both species was detected in 2 specimens (1.02%). A significant correlation was found between preterm labor and infection (P-value ≤ 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study shows high prevalence of Chlamydial infections in comparison with Mycoplasma genitalium in this region. Further studies with larger sample size and more focused on different groups at risk are needed for a movement towards prevention and control of sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
authors.affiliation: Molecular and Cellular Biology Research Center, School of Medicine, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haghighi Hasanabad
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohammadzadeh
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bahador
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fazel
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rakhshani
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Majnooni