[Chlamydia urethritis in nephrologic practice]

Chlamydia trachomatis is an ubiquitous bacterium, strictly intracellular organism. The D-K serovars urethritis, cervicitis, endometritis, salpingitis, periappendicitis and perihepatitis, in women, urethritis, prostatitis, epididymitis and Reiter's syndrome in 1-2% of cases in men. Sterility is the most serious complication in both sexes. Chlamydial infections are sexually transmitted diseases, often asymptomatic, prone to recurrences. Cure occurs only when both sexual partners are treated simultaneously. We treated 40 patients, 24 women and 16 men, from 1991-1994, who presented in nephrologic offices with symptoms of chlamydial urethritis. Detection of Chlamydia trachomatis was performed by direct fluorescent antibody stain. All patients had positive urethral swab, six women had chlamydial cervicitis too, one man had Reiter's syndrome, one man orchiepididymitis, and five men prostatitis. Optimal therapy for Chlamydia trachomatis infections consists of a 10-14 day regimen of quinolone, of tetracycline, and macrolides. We used sulfonamide rarely. Because of very serious sequelae of initial infection with Chlamydia trachomatis, every patient with urethritis should be examined by urethral swab for Chlamydia testing. Both partners should be examined and treated simultaneously.