Trans-Placental Transmission and Survival at Birth among Neonates of
Chlamydia trachomatis Infected Mothers: A Cohort Study
Abstract
Objective The study aimed at assessing trans-placental transmission of
Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and fetal survival at birth among CT infected
mothers. Study Design This is a non-interventional prospective cohort
study. Population /Study Setting The study was conducted among two
thousand and fourteen pregnant women attending antenatal clinic at the
Cape Coast Teaching Hospital. Methodology Cord blood from neonates born
to one hundred and twelve (112) pregnant women whose cervical samples
were positive for CT at first ANC visit were screened by Polymerase
Chain Reaction (PCR) for CT infection. Transplacental transmission of CT
was considered when CT DNA type-specific agreement was observed between
the samples of maternal cervical specimen and the corresponding neonatal
cord blood. A neonate who did not survive at birth at >
28weeks gestation or 1000g birthweight is considered stillbirth. Results
There were one hundred and one (101) live births and eleven (11)
stillbirths. Of the 101 live births, two (2) of the cord bloods were CT
DNA positive whereas nine (9) of the eleven (11) stillbirths were cord
blood positive for CT DNA. The two (2) neonates with cord blood positive
for CT DNA developed early onset neonatal sepsis. There is therefore, a
strong evidence that trans-placental CT infection is associated with
stillbirth P< 0.001; OR, 38.5 ; 95% CI (6.91 – 412.3).
Conclusion Antibiotic prophylaxis for pregnant women at risk for CT
infection is recommended. Routine screening for all pregnant women
should be considered for prenatal care in medium to long term planning.