Eosinophilia in Preterm Born Infants Infected with Chlamydia trachomatis

ABSTRACT

A higher than 350 eosinophils/mm³ is strongly associated with Chlamydia trachomatis in term born babies coursing with respiratory distress. However, in preterm newborns infected with this pathogen, the levels of eosinophils are unknown. Forty newborn infants with clinical data of respiratory problems and/or sepsis were analyzed. DNA of leukocytes from peripheral blood was used to identify C. trachomatis. Detection of chlamydial infection was performed by amplifying the ompA gene by an in-house PCR, and eosinophil levels were evaluated in an XT-2000-hematology analyzer. Eighteen infants showed chlamydial infection and 14 of them showed pneumonia (RR = 2.6; CI95% 1.03-6.5; p =.027). Their eosinophil levels were 719 ± 614 cells/mm³. A significant association between eosinophilia ≥1250 cells/mm³ and gestational age of less than 29 weeks (RR = 5.8; 1.35; CI95% [1.4-24.5], p <.008) was observed. The preterm infants with chlamydial infection did not show higher eosinophil levels than uninfected infants.

KEYWORDS:

• Chlamydia trachomatis
• eosinophilia
• preterm newborn
• pneumonia
• sepsis

Declaration of interest

The authors have no conflicts of interest relevant to this article. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.