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BackgroundChlamydia trachomatis infections are the most prevalent sexually transmitted bacterial infections in the world. There is scarce data available referring to the distribution of C. trachomatis genotypes in Argentina. The aim of this study was to identify the genotypes of C. trachomatis circulating in the metropolitan area of Buenos Aires (Argentina) associated with ophthalmia neonatorum and genital infections.FindingsFrom 2001 to 2006, 199 positive samples for C. trachomatis infection from symptomatic adult patients and neonates with ophthalmia neonatorum from two public hospitals were studied. C. trachomatis genotypes were determined by PCR-RFLP of an ompA fragment.Genotype E was the most prevalent regardless of the sample origin (46.3% 57/123 in adults and 72.4% 55/76 in neonates), followed by genotype D (19.5% 24/123) and F (14.6% 18/123) in adults, and G (9.2% 7/76) and D (7.9% 6/76) in neonates. We detected a significantly higher frequency of genotype E (p < 0.001, OR = 3.03 (1.57

We assessed the diagnostic utility of uric acid for the prediction of preeclampsia. An observational prospective approach was carried out during 2014. Preeclamptic women were classified into 4 groups accordingly to the onset of preeclampsia and the presence of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). Serum uric acid levels, urea, and creatinine were measured. Receiver operating curves (ROC) of the uric acid levels ratio (UAr) between a dosage before and after the 20th week of gestation were performed. One thousand two hundred and ninety-third pregnant women were enrolled in this study. Eight hundred ten had non-complicated pregnancies, 40 preeclampsia, 33 gestational hypertension, and 20 IUGR without preeclampsia. Uric acid significantly raised after 20 weeks of gestation in women who develop preeclampsia before 34 weeks (Group A) or in those who develop preeclampsia after 37 weeks associated with IUGR (Group C). In women who develop preeclampsia after 34 weeks without IUGR (Groups B and D), uric acid increased after the 30th week of gestation. In all groups, UAr was greater than 1.5. In gestational hypertension, UAr was superior to 1.5 toward the end of gestation, while in IUGR without preeclampsia, the behavior of serum uric acid was similar to non-complicated pregnancies. In all cases, urea and creatinine showed normal values, confirming that patients had no renal compromise. ROC area was 0.918 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.858–0.979) for the preeclampsia group and 0.955 (95% CI: 0.908–1.000) for Group A. UAr at a cut-off point ≥1.5 had a very low positive predictive value, but a high negative predictive value of 99.5% for preeclampsia and it reached 100% for Group A. Thus, a UAr less than 1.5 may be a helpful parameter with a strong exclusion value and high sensitivity for those women who are not expected to develop preeclampsia. Additionally, this low-cost test would allow for better use of resources in developing countries.

The aim of this study was to evaluate different methods for Trichomonas vaginalis diagnosis during pregnancy in order to prevent maternal and perinatal complications. A total of 386 vaginal exudates from pregnant women were analyzed. T. vaginalis was investigated by 3 types of microscopic examinations direct wet mount with physiologic saline solution, prolonged May-Grunwald Giemsa (MGG) staining, and wet mount with sodium-acetate-formalin (SAF)/methylene blue method. PCR for 18S rRNA gene as well as culture in liquid medium were performed. The sensitivity and specificity of the microscopic examinations were evaluated considering the culture media positivity or the PCR techniques as gold standard. The frequency of T. vaginalis infection was 6.2% by culture and/or PCR, 5.2% by PCR, 4.7% by culture, 3.1% by SAF/methylene blue method and 2.8% by direct wet smear and prolonged MGG staining. The sensitivities were 83.3%, 75.0%, 50.0%, and 45.8% for PCR, culture, SAF/methylene blue method, and direct wet smear-prolonged MGG staining, respectively. The specificity was 100% for all the assessed methods. Microscopic examinations showed low sensitivity, mainly in asymptomatic pregnant patients. It is necessary to improve the detection of T. vaginalis using combined methods providing higher sensitivity, such as culture and PCR, mainly in asymptomatic pregnant patients, in order to prevent maternal and perinatal complications.