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Illnesses in infants born to women with Chlamydia trachomatis infection. A prospective study
Insights
Maternal Chlamydia trachomatis infection increases infant risks for pneumonitis and recurrent otitis media. Exposed infants with pneumonitis also showed higher rates of gastroenteritis.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Neonatal Health
Background:
- Chlamydia trachomatis is a known cause of infant conjunctivitis and pneumonitis.
- It is also suspected in cases of infant otitis media and gastroenteritis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between maternal Chlamydia trachomatis infection and infant illnesses.
- To determine if Chlamydia trachomatis exposure increases morbidity in infants.
Main Methods:
- A blinded review of medical records was conducted for 244 infants born to mothers screened for cervical Chlamydia trachomatis.
- Infants were categorized as exposed or unexposed to Chlamydia trachomatis based on maternal culture results.
Main Results:
- Infants exposed to Chlamydia trachomatis had double the rate of pneumonitis and recurrent otitis media in the first six months compared to unexposed infants.
- Exposed infants who developed pneumonitis had increased subsequent rates of gastroenteritis.
Conclusions:
- Maternal Chlamydia trachomatis infection is linked to significant infant outpatient morbidity.
- Chlamydia trachomatis may cause or contribute to early-onset, recurrent otitis media and gastroenteritis in infants.
Abstract:
Chlamydia trachomatis is known to cause infant pneumonitis and conjunctivitis and is a suspected cause of otitis media and gastroenteritis. To identify infections associated with exposure to C trachomatis, infant illnesses were studied through a "blinded" review of medical records of 244 infants born to women cultured antenatally for cervical C trachomatis, 25% of whom had C trachomatis-positive cultures. Compared with unexposed infants, infants exposed to C trachomatis had twice the rate of both pneumonitis and recurrent otitis media in the first six months. Infants who were exposed to C trachomatis and who had pneumonitis had higher subsequent rates of gastroenteritis than either unexposed infants or exposed infants without pneumonitis. These results suggest that appreciable outpatient infant morbidity may be associated with maternal infection with C trachomatis, and that it may either cause or promote the occurrence of early, recurrent otitis media and gastroenteritis.