Evaluation of urogenitalChlamydia trachomatis infections by cell culture and the polymerase chain reaction using a closed system

Abstract

Two hundred and fifty-four specimens from males and females consulting a clinic for sexually transmitted diseases were analyzed for genital Chlamydia trachomatis infection. Each clinical sample was tested by the cell culture technique and the polymerase chain reaction using a closed system. When the two test systems were compared, the overall sensitivity of the polymerase chain reaction was 96% and the specificity 94% when compared to the cell culture technique. By use of a closed system for DNA extraction and sample transfer for the polymerase chain reaction, contamination of the samples was minimized. The polymerase chain reaction detected a higher number of Chlamydia trachomatis infections among both symptomatic and asymptomatic females and males, and it also detected Chlamydia trachomatis at an earlier stage of infection when compared to cell culture. The polymerase chain reaction did not detect Chlamydia trachomatis after sufficient antibiotic treatment of the chlamydial infections.

Diagnosis of urogenital Chlamydia trachomatis infection in women based on mailed samples obtained at home: multipractice comparative study

“…We previously applied the polymerase chain reaction assay used in this study to swabs and found a sensitivity of about 95% when compared with four unrelated tests 19. Furthermore, only endocervical swabs were included for comparison in the studies by Lee et al and Chernesky et al, and as shown in this and other studies a urethral swab is also needed in order to achieve high diagnostic sensitivity for samples obtained by doctors 5 8 20. When culture results of urethral and endocervical swabs were compared with the results of applying the ligase chain reaction assay to first void urine the assay had a sensitivity of 86% 21.…”

“…This is required because the infection is treatable, common,2 4 and often asymptomatic3 4 5 and has no useful predictors 2 17 18. Recent studies successfully subjected first void urine samples from women to ligase chain reaction assay for the detection of C trachomatis 1 10 14 15.…”

“…Women are affected most by the consequences of infection, with pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy, and tubal infertility 3 4. As about half of infected women are asymptomatic3 4 5 screening of clinically healthy women is also necessary in order to reduce the prevalence of the infection and subsequent complications 6 7. Screening procedures formerly required gynaecological examinations during which both endocervical and urethral swabs were taken in order to achieve high diagnostic sensitivity 5 8.…”

“…As about half of infected women are asymptomatic3 4 5 screening of clinically healthy women is also necessary in order to reduce the prevalence of the infection and subsequent complications 6 7. Screening procedures formerly required gynaecological examinations during which both endocervical and urethral swabs were taken in order to achieve high diagnostic sensitivity 5 8. This need for gynaecological examinations in clinically healthy women may limit screening for C trachomatis because of cost and feasibility.…”

Amplification of plasmid and chromosome chlamydia dna in synovial fluid of patients with reactive arthritis and undifferentiated seronegative oligoarthropathies

“…It is well known that some chlamydial infections in humans can be inapparent (36), and C trachomatis has been found in urogenital samples from patients who have not shown typical symptoms of infection and mono/oligoarthritis (17,37,38). In 3 patients who had experienced recurrent oligoarthritis for several years, we found C trachomatis DNA in the SF.…”