Abstract

GARCIA, Zaida et al. Infección por Chlamydia trachomatis en un grupo de mujeres de alto riesgo, trabajadoras del sexo en Costa Rica. Rev. costarric. cienc. méd [online]. 2005, vol.26, n.3-4, pp.15-29. ISSN 0253-2948.

The Chlamydia are the most important pathogens in the sexual transmission diseases over the world. An estimated of 4 million Chlamydia infection occurs annually in the United States. In Costa Rica, few studies of the Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) infection have been published because of the lack of sensitive and specifi c testing introduction methods for screening and diagnostic. This study tries to determine the presence of the infection by CT in a group of women sex workers (WSW) to demonstrate that we must implemented the diagnostic and take the measures from prevention and control. In one descriptive, prospective and transversal study, a total of 457 WSW were analyzed. Endocervicales, urine samples and epidemiological data were obtained from the study. C. Trachomatis infection was detected with the PCR Roche Diagnostic Test. In this study a 14.7% of prevalence is determined, affecting mainly groups of people from 16 to 34 years old. Besides, a connection with early sexual intercourse (10 to 19 years), low schooling (primary 66% or less), multiple sexual partners (50.7% from 11 to 50 per week), non use of condom (43.8%) was found. In the study there was not relation between infection by CT and the clinical diagnostic symptoms that demonstrates the necessity of the implementation of a diagnostic method, like nucleic acid amplification tests, for the great sensitivity and specificity, and its application in different specimens: urethral, endocervicales, urine that allow the detection and prevention of the infection, to offer the proper treatments and the reduction of the morbidity and the transmission.

Keywords : Chlamydia trachomatis; Chlamydia infection; Women sex workers; PCR; Diagnostic; Prevalence.