Culturing tubal pregnancies for Chlamydia trachomatis: is it beneficial?

Chronic Chlamydia trachomatis infection has been demonstrated in the fallopian tubes of asymptomatic infertile women. These women have a significantly increased risk of ectopic pregnancies. The purpose of our study was to determine the efficacy of culturing the ectopic site for C. trachomatis, the likely cause of asymptomatic salpingitis in association with a tubal pregnancy. We cultured the fallopian tubes of 21 patients undergoing surgery for tubal pregnancy, all 21 cultures were negative for C. trachomatis. Although infection with this organism is one of the causes of ectopic pregnancy, we were unable to demonstrate the presence of a concomitant chlamydial infection at the time of surgery. Combining chlamydial cultures with nonculture techniques may be more beneficial in further attempts to demonstrate such an association.