Resumen

PORTILLA, J, VALVERDE, A, ROMERO, S et al. Prevalencia de Neisseria gonorrhoeae y Chlamydia trachomatis en gestantes atendidas en el Instituto Materno Perinatal de Lima - Perú, 1997-1998. Rev. perú. med. exp. salud publica, 1999, vol.16, no.1-2, p.25-27. ISSN 1726-4634.

From August 1997 to February 1998, a study was conducted on a systematic sample of 410 pregnant women undergoing pregnancy control at the Maternal Perinatal Institute from Lima, in order to find the prevalence of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis infection. Swabs of the endocervical region were processed for Neisseria gonorrhoeae using Modified Thayer Martin agar. The detection of Chlamydia trachomatis was performed using antigen capture ELISA, direct inmunofluorescence and cellular culture techniques. Neisseria gonorrhoeae was not found in any of the samples, Chlamydia trachomatis was found in 34,8%, being most frequent in the 33-37 years old group. It was also noted that 80,5% of the pregnant women infected by Chlamydia showed no discomfort in the genital region, which tells us that the population infected by this bacteria may remain unaware for a long time until diagnosis. Diagnosis usually occurs when the infection reaches a certain level of complication or when the newborn presents with respiratory distress or trachoma.

Palabras llave: Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Chlamydia trachomatis; prevalence; pregnancy.