Via practica 4/2009

Chlamydia infections

Chlamydia is ubiquitar, strictly intracellular pathogen. Chlamydia cannot synthesize its own ATP, an its energetically dependent on host epitelial cell. C. trachomatis, C. pneumoniae and C. psittaci are associated with human pathology. Infections due to C. trachomatis are insidious due to high contagiosity and frequent asymptomatic course of disease leading to sterility. The most dangerous thing about chlamydia when transmitted sexually is that 80% of women and 50% of men are asymptomatic, and are completely unaware that they are infected. Clinical presentation in men reached urethritis, prostatitis and epididimytitits, in women cervicovaginatis with dyscharge, endometritits and pelvic pain syndrome The basic principles of therapy are consisted of antiinfective therapy along with treatment of sexual partner and laboratory confirmation of patient´s recovery. Incidence of infection caused by C. pneumoniae is also high, IgG antibodies are detected in 80% of adult population. Typical clinical presentation is characterized by pharyngitis, bronchitis, acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis and community acquired pneumonia. Association between persistent C. pneumoniae infection and atherogenesis, asthma, vaskulitis and neurological disorders are discussed. Macrolides, mainly azithromycin both in children and in adults, tetracyclines and fluoroquinolones in adults are recommended antibiotics.

Keywords: C. trachomatis, C. pneumoniae, urogenital infections, respiratory infections, pneumonia