Chlamydia Trachomatis Infection in Pregnancy

Despite the fact that this infection is treatable, majority of countries have not established polices that ensure that screen is done at the points of healthcare deliver. This greatly reduces the potential for early treatment which can help reduce the morbidity and mortality rates among pregnant women and infants2. Besides, lack of a vaccine also makes it difficult to mitigate the spread of this infection. This paper conducts a review of the study by Adachi, Nielsen-Saines and Klausner on C. trachomatis in pregnant women against four recent studies on the infection. 6 million new cases of curable STI’s. In South East Asia the figure stands at 78. 5 million while in West Pacific, the figure stands at 128. 2 million new cases. More specifically, the article has established that C.

The study established that high prevalence rates could be related to risk markers such as the women’s perception of their partners being at risk of infection, low educational status, and urban residence, low rates of using condom, extramarital sex, and early age of sexual debut. Also, a young maternal age could be a key risk factor for contacting the C. trachomatis infection. Moreover, the study also established that the low usage of condom can be attributed to factors that include lack of adequate condom supply, lack of adequate counseling at STI clinics, lack of awareness and perceived risks and sociobehavioral factors such as the limited ability of women to negotiate for the use of condoms in marriage and this is transferred into pregnancy where they cannot justify the use of condoms as a means of family planning2.

Link between C. trachomatis in the genital tract during the early days of the pregnancy can be linked to preterm birth and preterm premature rapture of the membranes responsible for holding the pregnancy. The study further noted that the prevalence of C. trachomatis infection in endocervical swabs among women stood at 17. The association between c. trachomatis and spontaneous abortion was found to be statistically significant i. Adachi, Nielsen-Saines and Klausner, also provide that early detection can be an effective way of managing and preventing further infection of c. trachomatis1. This is supported by Folger who explored the impact of early detection and eradication of maternal C. trachomatis infections during pregnancy4. Folger provides that early detection and eradication of C. Developing a safe and effective vaccine has the potential of providing a remedy for reducing the global burden of the C.

trachomatis infection more so, in relation to maternal and infant morbidity. In addition, Hafner, Wilson, Timms provides that despite much research on establishing a vaccine for C. trachomatis, there have not been any significant breakthroughs5. However, the opportunity to develop a successful vaccine recently received a boost when a genetic transformation system for Chlamydia was developed. Reference 1. Adachi K, Nielsen-Saines K, Klausner JD. Chlamydia trachomatis infection in pregnancy: the global challenge of preventing adverse pregnancy and infant outcomes in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. BioMed research international. Wangnapi RA, Soso S, Unger HW, Sawera C, Ome M, Umbers AJ, Ndrewei N, Siba P, Suen CL, Vallely A, Wapling J. 2014 Oct 1;18(8):1795-802. Hafner LM, Wilson DP, Timms P. Development status and future prospects for a vaccine against Chlamydia trachomatis infection.