The impact of Chlamydia trachomatis infection on pregnancy and neonatal outcomes

Abstract

Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis) is an obligate intracellular bacterium whose only natural host is humans. Although presenting as asymptomatic in most women, genital tract chlamydial infections are a leading cause of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), premature rupture of membranes (PROM), tubal factor infertility, and ectopic pregnancy. C. trachomatis is one of the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection (STI) pathogen, resulting in an estimated 106 million new infections each year. C. trachomatis infections are prevalent in pregnant women and their neonates in the African continent. There are no published review articles from South Africa that focus on these infections. This review article aims to fill this gap in the literature. The biology, risk factors, coinfections, clinical features, and implications of this infection on South African pregnant women and their neonates were identified and extracted using an electronic search of online databases. Unmarried status, low socioeconomic level and a high number of sexual partners are all established risk factors for chlamydial infection amongst pregnant South African women. Infection with C. trachomatis has been linked to a variety of clinical symptoms in neonates, including low birth weight, nasopharyngitis, conjunctivitis and pneumonia. It is essential to screen sexually active young women and high-risk patients more frequently and raise awareness of the risks of C. trachomatis in developing countries like South Africa. Professionals in public health ought to use these strategies in addition to continuing initiatives to create effective vaccines that are safe to be administered to pregnant women.