الفهرس | Only 14 pages are availabe for public view |
Abstract Premature rupture of membrane is considered a significant cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality with increased maternal and neonatal risks. Even though the etiology for PROM is known to be diverse and multifactorial, genital infections constitute the main factor standing behind the occurrence of PROM. Chlamydia trachomatis is considered the most common sexually transmitted bacterial infection with most infected women remaining asymptomatic. Literature review revealed a well-established controversy and heterogeneity with excessive variation between studies assessing the association between Chlamydia trachomatis infection during pregnancy and adverse pregnancy outcomes for both mother and baby. Some studies showed that chlamydial infection during pregnancy is associated with increased risk for adverse outcomes such as miscarriage, stillbirth, preterm birth, and premature rupture of the membrane, although other studies have failed to prove that. This study aimed to compare the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis cervicitis in women with premature rupture of membrane and control at term. The study showed no significant association between PROM and Chlamydia trachomatis. Although the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis cervicitis in women with PROM was higher as compared to the control group (45% compared to 20% by chlamydial antigen), the fact that Chlamydia trachomatis infection statistically increases the risk of PROM could not be confirmed. This justifies the need for further clinical research to clarify the association between chlamydia infection and adverse pregnancy outcomes and the impact of screening and treatment on these outcomes. |