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Conjunctival infection with Chlamydia trachomatis in sexual partners of patients with adult inclusion conjunctivitis

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Abstract

To compare the incidence of conjunctival infection with Chlamydia trachomatis in sexual partners of patients with newly diagnosed adult inclusion conjunctivitis (AIC) and a control group with healthy eyes. We also compare the observed signs and symptoms of conjunctival infection in patients with newly diagnosed AIC and their sexual partners. We performed a prospective comparative case–control study between patients with newly diagnosed AIC confirmed with direct fluorescent antibody (DFA) (n = 11), their sexual partners (n = 11), and a control group of healthy subjects (n = 11). Clinical history, physical examination, and a DFA test for C. trachomatis of a conjunctival scrapping from the tarsal conjunctiva were performed in all patients. A significantly higher frequency of positive DFA tests for C. trachomatis was observed in the sexual partner group (n = 8, 73 %) compared with the healthy control group (n = 2, 18.2 %) (P = 0.03). Ocular symptoms and signs were observed significantly more often in patients from the confirmed clinically active AIC group (n = 11, 100 %) than in their sexual partners (n = 2, 12.5 %). Sexual partners of patients with AIC are at greater risk of having an asymptomatic conjunctival infection with C. trachomatis than healthy subjects. Sexual partners might be considered a bacterial reservoir and a possible source for chlamydia reinfection. Not treating sexual partners might increase the probability of reinfection. More extended studies with a greater sample size should be done.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by a grant from the Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon (UANL), PAICYT 2010 (SA372-10). We thank our Institutional Research Vice Direction that critically reviewed and corrected this manuscript for English clarity and proficiency using professional English-language editing services with native English speaking professionals in the field.

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The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine and “Dr. Jose Eleuterio Gonzalez” University Hospital, Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon (UANL), Av. Madero y Gonzalitos s/n, Colonia Mitras Centro, 64460, Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico

    Karim Mohamed-Noriega, Jibran Mohamed-Noriega, Manuel A. Valdés-Navarro, Edgar Eliezar Cuervo-Lozano, Martín Cesar Fernández-Espinosa & Jesús Mohamed-Hamsho

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  1. Karim Mohamed-Noriega
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  2. Jibran Mohamed-Noriega
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  3. Manuel A. Valdés-Navarro
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  4. Edgar Eliezar Cuervo-Lozano
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Correspondence to Karim Mohamed-Noriega.

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Mohamed-Noriega, K., Mohamed-Noriega, J., Valdés-Navarro, M.A. et al. Conjunctival infection with Chlamydia trachomatis in sexual partners of patients with adult inclusion conjunctivitis. Int Ophthalmol 35, 179–185 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10792-014-9930-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10792-014-9930-z

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