Perinatal Chlamydia trachomatis infection in a low birth weight infant

The present case report demonstrates a new probable cause of intrauterine acquired neonatal pneumonia. An infant weighing 780 gm was born in the 27th week of gestation because of maternal spontaneous onset of labor with intact membranes. The infant was referred to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) soon after delivery with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). A suspected infection with Chlamydia trachomatis was confirmed by bacterial isolation and direct immunofluorescent test (IF) using monoclonal antibodies. On the basis of this observation we suggest that intrauterine Chlamydia infection should be considered as cause of premature delivery and RDS.