Introduction: An increase in the numbers of babies reported with Chlamydia trachomatis infections in Massachusetts prompted a review of the medical records of both infants and mothers to evaluate the clinical presentation, the maternal epidemiologic profile, risks of transmission, and the screening practices of health care providers.
Methods: Medical records of 44/47 infants reported with a chlamydial infection in 1992-1993 were analyzed, as were 40 of the maternal records.
Results: Almost all of the infants (39, or 89%) had conjunctivitis, despite the fact that ocular prophylaxis with erythromycin was documented at birth for 34 infants. Five other infants presented with respiratory tract infections without conjunctivitis, and they had all received prophylaxis at birth either with erythromycin (3) or silver nitrate instillation (2). More than one fifth (10, or 22.7%) had a respiratory tract infection. Seventy percent of the mothers were younger than 25. More than 85% were receiving prenatal care by the end of the second trimester. Twenty-five (62.5%) were screened for chlamydia. Nine women tested positive, seven of whom were tested beyond the first trimester. Seventy-five percent of the women who tested negative were tested in the first trimester.
Discussion: This case series supports previous data documenting that ocular prophylaxis can fail to prevent neonatal chlamydial conjunctivitis, and does not prevent colonization or infection at other sites. This study reinforces the importance of primary prevention of neonatal infections through prenatal screening in the third trimester, treatment of infected mothers and their sexual partner(s), and active follow-up.