Mucopurulent cervicitis as a predictor of chlamydial infection and adverse pregnancy outcome

The investigators of the johns hopkins study of cervicitis and adverse pregnancy outcome

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

33 Scopus citations

Abstract

The role of mucopurulent cervicitis in identifying pregnant women with Chlamydia trachomatis infection and poor pregnancy outcome was examined at the Johns Hopkins Hospital Obstetric Clinic in Baltimore, Maryland. The women studied were at high risk for chlamydial infection (14%), low birth-weight (12%), and preterm delivery (13%). Yellow endocervical discharge on a cotton swab had a sensitivity of 23.9%, specificity of 89.4%, and positive predictive value of 28.6% for predicting chlamydial infection. The presence of ⩾ 30 polymorphonuclear cells per 1000× field had a sensitivity of 25.0%, specificity of 87.6% and positive predictive value of 24.3%. Women with cervicitis defined by ⩾30 polymorphonuclear cells per 1000× field were twice as likely to deliver a low-birthweight infant. Adjustment for potential confounding variables did not explain this association. The poor sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value of mucopurulent cervicitis suggests that this parameter is not a useful screening tool for chlamydial infection in pregnant women. However, mucopurulent cervicitis may be an indicator of increased risk for poor pregnancy outcome.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)198-202
Number of pages5
JournalSexually transmitted diseases
Volume19
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 1992

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Dermatology
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
  • Microbiology (medical)
  • Infectious Diseases

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