THE PREVALENCE OF CHLAMYDIA TRACHOMATIS INFECTION IN SAINT-PETERSBURG

Abstract. Chlamydia trachomatis causes various diseases of reproductive organs. Only limited data on the incidence of urogenital chlamydia infection in the Russian Federation are available. The main goal of this study was to detect the prevalence of infection associated with Chlamydia trachomatis in citizens of St.Petersburg. Overall 3833 individuals including 2190 children and adolescents aged from 0 to 18 years old and 1643 adults aged 19–70 years old were tested in 2008–2010. This group included patients with acute and chronic pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility as well as patients without clinical symptoms of Chlamydia infection. The high level of Chlamydia trachomatis infection among newborns and dramatic increase of the infection among adolescents were determined. These results support urgent needs to develop adequate preventive measures to control Chlamydia trachomatis infection in the population. The effectiveness of different laboratory tests to detect Chlamydia trachomatis infection depends on the causative agent localization in the macroorganism, on acuity of infection process and on immune response. The combined using of different laboratory tests give the possibility to obtain objective results about Chlamydia etiology role in inflammatory disease of urogenital tract as well as about prevalence of infection in regions of the country.