CHLAMYDIA-TRACHOMATIS CONJUNCTIVITIS - PREVALENCE AND ASSOCIATION WITH GENITAL-TRACT INFECTION

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis in ac ute conjunctivitis (non-trachoma) in Australia and to examine the sour ce of transmission. Design: A prospective survey of 400 consecutive pa tients presenting with acute conjunctivitis to the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital Emergency Department, Melbourne, from May to Novembe r 1991. Patients identified with chlamydial conjunctivitis during the survey period and in the following two months were assessed for concom itant genital infection. Results: Chlamydia was the causative organism in 2% of patients with acute conjunctivitis. Of 15 patients with chla mydial conjunctivitis, 11 presented with disease in one eye only, and the same number had had symptoms for longer than two weeks. Many had b een seen previously by experienced ophthalmologists, yet there were lo ng delays in making a definitive diagnosis. Ten of the 12 adult patien ts who were assessed had signs of concomitant genital tract infection, although none had past or current genital tract symptoms, Serotyping of chlamydial isolates from the genital tract and eye showed concordan ce in individual patients. Conclusion: Most cases of ocular chlamydia infection have a genital source. Therefore, it is essential that all p atients with chlamydial conjunctivitis and their sexual partners are e xamined and treated for concomitant genital infection.