Chlamydia trachomatis: The enemy of the Fallopian tube

The female prevalence of the genital infections due to Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) is considered at 1.6%, but reached 3.6% among women from 18 to 24 years. Ct is one of the most implied bacteria in PID, even if it is not possible to quantify exactly the prevalence of chlamydial salpingitis because of the frequency of the asymptomatic forms. The physiopathology of these complications is not completely elucidated. The natural clearance of Ct at the cervical level has been demonstrated but it varies with the bacterial serovar. The period between cervical infection and salpingitis is also vague. However, we know that the risk of salpingitis increases with the time of start-up treatment. In addition, the risk of PID and sequelae increases with the number of cervical infections. The diagnosis can be evocated on a rise in the rate of anti-Ct IgG correlated with a rise in CRP. The diagnosis of certitude rests on the coelioscopy, but endo-vaginal echography or the MRI can direct the diagnosis. The prevention of these complications remains the targeted screening of chlamydial infections in at-risk populations, teenagers in particular. The recent techniques of self-administrated vaginal swabs are, in this respect, a real progress.