Detection of chlamydia trachomatis in patients attending the sexually transmitted diseases clinic with non- gonococcal urethritis

Abstract

This study was designed to detect the prevalence of chlamydia trachomatis as a cause of non-gonococcal arthritis (NGU) in patients who presented at the central STD clinic of the STD/AIDS control programme. Both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients were studied.6/50 (12 per cent) of the patients were positive for chlamydia trachomatis either by the DFT tissue culture or by both.3 of these were males and 3 were females.5/75 (6.6 per cent) samples were positive by DFT and 2/75 (3.3 per cent) samples were positively cell culture. The male patients were in the 20-25, 26-30, and the 40 year age groups. The female patients were in the 17 year, and the 30-40 year age groups.DFT was found to be a rapid and sensitive test for the detection of c.trachomatis. The cell culture although not so sensitive, is a useful test particularly in medico-legal issues. Also it preserves the specimens for additional studies like genotyping and antimicrobial sensitivity testing