CHLAMYDIA-TRACHOMATIS AND FEBRILE COMPLICATIONS OF POSTPARTUM TUBAL-LIGATION

OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to determine whether chlamydia-infected women have a higher rate of febrile complications after postpartum tubal lig ation. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis of 1447 women tested for chlamydial infection within 2 weeks of delivery and who underwent pos tpartum tubal ligation was performed. Subjects were identified with th e Regenstrief Institute for Health Care database. Infected subjects we re compared with uninfected subjects for incidence of fever not explai ned by nongynecologic sources. RESULTS: Women infected with Chlamydia trachomatis at delivery were more likely to experience febrile postope rative complications after tubal ligation (p < 0.0001, relative risk 9 .5, 95% confidence interval 4.5 to 20.1). CONCLUSION: Women undergoing postpartum tubal ligation may benefit from prompt diagnosis and preop erative treatment of chlamydial infection.