REDUCING THE RISK OF CHLAMYDIA-TRACHOMATIS GENITAL-TRACT INFECTION BYEVALUATING THE PROPHYLACTIC POTENTIAL OF VAGINALLY APPLIED CHEMICALS

The need to provide women with a partner-independent method of prophyl axis against sexually transmitted disease (STD) agents, including Chla mydia trachomatis, has led to a directed effort to develop a vaginally applied, broad-spectrum antimicrobial preparation that is both safe a nd effective. Using a murine model of C. trachomatis lower genital tra ct infection, we tested the ability of various vaginally applied chemi cals to alter the course of infection in female mice challenged with i nfectious doses ranging from 10(3) to 10(6) inclusion forming units of an oculogenital serovar of C. trachomatis. When administered in a met hylcellulose/propylene glycol-based gel 15 minutes prior to challenge, four widely used topical antimicrobials (benzalkonium chloride, chlor hexidine, nonoxynol-9, and polymyxin B) were shown to protect against infection. These results support the possibility that this type of int erventional method may be a clinically relevant means of prophylaxis a gainst sexually transmitted infection with C. trachomatis, the most co mmon bacterial STD agent.