Prevalence of chlamydial infection in females attending antenatal and family planning clinics in Karachi Pakistan

A prospective study was undertaken to investigate the relative prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis in asymptomatic pregnant women of 2 socioeconomic groups and these attending the family planning clinics. Group 1 consisted of women attending the antenatal clinics of the Aga Khan University Hospital which caters to the affluent strata of our society (n=100). Group 2 comprised women attending the antenatal clinics of Lady Dufferin Hospital which provides free obstetric care to women belonging to the lower socioeconomic groups of Karachi (n=100), Group 3 consisted of sexually active women attending the family planning clinics of Lady Dufferin Hospital (n=100). Endocervical swabs were taken from women assigned to each group. Chlamydiazyme, an enzyme linked immunoassay, was used to detect chlamydia antigen. The positive samples were retested by using the direct fluorescent monoclonal antibody technique. Chlamydia positive patients and their sexual partners were treated with Erythromycin stearate 500 mg 8-hourly for 7 days. These patients were retested after antibiotic therapy to assess the efficacy of the therapy. In groups 1 and 2, 2% and in Group 3, 12% of the females tested positive. Selective screening of sexually active women for chlamydial infection is advocated as a cost-effective public health measure.