Quantitative aspects of chlamydial infection of the cervix.

Abstract

In 580 women with Chlamydia trachomatis infection of the cervix, the degree of the infection was assessed by counting the number of chlamydial inclusions which developed in McCoy [human synovial] cell monolayers inoculated with cervical swab material under standardized conditions. In 34% of these women inclusion counts were < 100/monolayer; in 36% the counts were .gtoreq. 1000. Clinical features in each of these groups were compared to see if certain factors could be identified as the cause or the result of high-grade rather than low-grade infection. A significant association was found between high inclusion counts and the presence of cervical mucopus or cervical ectopy. Oral contraceptives acted additively with ectopy but had no significant effect alone. Concurrent gonorrhea did not affect the degree of chlamydial infection. High inclusion counts were more common in women in 20 yr of age than in older women.