qPCR detection of Neisseria Gonorrhoeae in Patients with Clinic Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

Neisseria gonorrhoeae is a leading cause of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in women, an infection of the uterus and fallopian tubes characterized by inflammation, acute and chronic lower abdominal pain, disability and distress, which can result in infertility, ectopic pregnancy and chronic pelvic pain. N. gonorrhoeae may be a cause of PID alone, or in association with Chlamydia trachomatis. Using real time (RT)-PCR, we investigated, for the first time in Romania, the prevalence of N. gonorrhoeae in patients with PID. Over six-month period (September 2010-March 2011), we tested one hundred women originating from rural and urban regions, with an average age of 32 years (range: 22-68 years). N. gonorrhoeae was detected on endocervical swabs from 11 patients. Its prevalence was higher in urban areas versus rural communities (73% versus 27%, p <; 0.439) and in younger adults versus older patients (64% in patient younger than 25 years old, 27% in patients aged 25-34 years and 19% in patients aged >35 years, p<; 0.004), being related with the number of sexual partners (82% in those with >3 sex partners versus 18%, in those with <; 3, p <; 0.031). We concluded that, while RT-PCR is an expensive method, its sensitivity and specificity allow rapid identification of gonococcus in patients with mild or vague symptoms for PID and rapid treatment of infection.