AEGiS-11IAC: Chlamydia trachomatis colonisation in cervix amongst commercial sex workers in Calcutta, India.

11th International AIDS Conference

Vancouver, British Columbia — July 7-12, 1996

Chlamydia trachomatis colonisation in cervix amongst commercial sex workers in Calcutta, India.

Int Conf AIDS 1996 Jul 7-12; 11:445 (abstract no. Pub.B.1046)
Pal NK, Das A, Banerjee M; Department of Bacteriology & Serology, Calcutta School of Tropical Medicine, Calcutta, India.

ISSUE: STD control is a major thrust area of control of AIDS in CSWs, considered to be prodominant reservoir of HIV in India. Although importance is given on other STDs, C. trachomatis remains neglected. Present study was aimed to explore the problem.Materials and methods: Endocervical swabs were taken from 194 CSWs of 250 odd resident workers of a red light area (Kalighat) of Calcutta together with 304 control cases having single sexual partner, attending G & O O.P.D. of Calcutta Medical College. C. trachomatis antigen was detected by ELISA (Chlomydiazyme kit -Abbott Lab.).

RESULTS: C. trachomatis were detected in 26.8% CSWs compared to 10.5% in control group (p = less than 0.01). In CSWs association of C. trachomatis is noted with vaginal discharge (25%), endocervical pus (3.8%) and cervicitis (5.7%), while in rest (65.5%) condition bears no clinical features. Values of above features are higher in C. trachomatis negative group.Impression: High (26.2%) incidence of C. trachomatis in CSWs suggests this should be a thrust area for S.T.D. control. 65.5% carriers without clinical features indicates all CSWs to be screened for it, irrespective of symptoms and signs.

Keywords: AEGIS, Chlamydia trachomatis, Cervix Uteri, Prostitution, Cervicitis, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, India, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Mass Screening, Female, ICA11

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