title: Ocular Chlamydia trachomatis infections in patients attending a tertiary eye care hospital in north India: a twelve year study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Ocular infection with Chlamydia trachomatis is a major public health problem in densely populated countries like India. The true prevalence of such infections is uncertain due to insufficient data available from India. The aim of this study was to do a retrospective analysis of C. trachomatis eye infections in patients attending the outpatient department of Dr Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, over a period of 12 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 1997 to 2008, the Chlamydia laboratory received conjunctival swabs from 1281 consecutive patients for C. trachomatis detection after thorough clinical examination. Specimens were subjected to direct fluorescent antigen detection assay using monoclonal antibody based commercial kit to detect the presence of C. trachomatis antigen.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Antigen positivity varied between 22-28 per cent. Children below 11 yr and people above the age of 60 yr showed comparatively higher antigen positivity (25.7 and 27.8%, respectively). As compared to males significantly (P<0.05) higher number of females in the age group of 31-60 yr were positive for C. trachomatis antigen. Patients with the clinical diagnosis of follicular/allergic conjunctivitis and trachoma showed higher rate of antigen positivity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Northern India having dry and arid climatic conditions in most parts of the year was considered in the past as one of the trachoma hyper-endemic foci. The study indicated that laboratory proven C. trachomatis eye infection still persisted in this part of the country throughout the study period of 12 years.
authors: Department of Ocular Microbiology, Dr R.P. Centre for Ophthalmic Science, New Delhi, India.
authors: Anjana
authors: A
authors: Sharma
authors: Gita
authors: G
authors: Satpathy
authors: Niranjan
authors: N
authors: Nayak
authors: Radhika
authors: R
authors: Tandon
authors: Namrata
authors: N
authors: Sharma
authors: Jeewan Singh
authors: JS
authors: Titiyal
authors: Anita
authors: A
authors: Panda
authors: Rasik Behari
authors: RB
authors: Vajpayee
authors: Ravinder Mohan
authors: RM
authors: Pandey
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis; D003234:Conjunctivitis, Bacterial / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D019085:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors
references: Indian J Ophthalmol. 2002 Dec;50(4):295-9
references: 12532494
references: Surv Ophthalmol. 2007 Sep-Oct;52(5):535-46
references: 17719375
references: Lancet. 2003 Jul 19;362(9379):181-2
references: 12885474
references: J Infect Dis. 2003 May 15;187(10):1669-73
references: 12721948
references: Indian J Ophthalmol. 1999 Dec;47(4):241-6
references: 10892481
references: Indian J Med Res. 2003 Feb;117:71-5
references: 12931841
references: Ophthalmic Epidemiol. 2002 Oct;9(4):263-9
references: 12187424
references: Arch Pediatr. 1999 Mar;6(3):317-20
references: 10191902
references: Asia Pac J Public Health. 1999;11(1):30-3
references: 10829825
references: J Commun Dis. 2004 Jun;36(2):121-6
references: 16295674
references: Bull World Health Organ. 2004 Nov;82(11):844-51
references: 15640920
references: Ophthalmic Epidemiol. 2012 Aug;19(4):216-20
references: 22775277
references: Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2003 Nov;69(5 Suppl):33-5
references: 14692679
references: Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2007 Apr;48(4):1492-7
references: 17389476
references: Clin Microbiol Rev. 2004 Oct;17(4):982-1011, table of contents
references: 15489358
references: Indian J Ophthalmol. 1998 Dec;46(4):217-20
references: 10218304
references: Ophthalmic Epidemiol. 2004 Jul;11(3):255-62
references: 15370556
references: Bull World Health Organ. 2005 Dec;83(12):913-9
references: 16462983
references: Am J Clin Pathol. 1986 Feb;85(2):180-5
references: 3511673
references: Ophthalmic Epidemiol. 2001 Jul;8(2-3):109-17
references: 11471080
references: Ophthalmic Epidemiol. 2009 Jul-Aug;16(4):206-11
references: 19874140
references: Br J Ophthalmol. 2003 Feb;87(2):142-6
references: 12543737