Use of Expedited Partner Therapy for Pregnant Women Treated for Sexually Transmitted Infections in Gaborone, Botswana

BACKGROUND

Partner notification and treatment for sexually transmitted infections are critical to prevent reinfection and reduce transmission. However, partner treatment rates are low globally. Expedited partner therapy (EPT), in which the patient delivers treatment directly to their partner, may result in more partners treated. We assessed partner notification and treatment outcomes among pregnant women in Gaborone, Botswana, including EPT intent, uptake, and effectiveness.

METHODS

The Maduo study was a cluster-controlled trial evaluating the effect of antenatal Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection screening in pregnant women. The intervention arm received screening at first antenatal care (ANC), third-trimester, and postnatal care visits. The standard-of-care arm received screening postnatally. Participants screening positive were given options for partner treatment: contact slips, in-clinic treatment, or EPT. Self-reported partner notification and treatment outcomes were assessed at test-of-cure visit.

RESULTS

Of 51 women who screened positive for C. trachomatis / N. gonorrhoeae at first ANC and returned for test of cure, 100% reported notifying their partner and 48 (94.1%) reported their partner received treatment. At third trimester 100% (n = 5), reported partners were treated. Before testing, EPT intent was lower than EPT uptake at all time points (first ANC: 17.9% vs. 80.4%; third-trimester: 57.1% vs. 71.4%; postnatal care: 0% vs. 80.0%). Partner treatment success was 100% among EPT users compared with 70% among nonusers ( P = 0.006).

CONCLUSIONS

Partner notification and treatment success was high in this population. Despite low pretest intent to use EPT, uptake was high and associated with greater partner treatment success. Our findings suggest that EPT may be a successful partner treatment strategy to pursue in low- and middle-income countries.

Suboptimal Bacteriological Quality of Household Water in Municipal Ibadan, Nigeria

Access to potable water is difficult for many African residents. This study evaluated the bacteriological quality of household water collected in the dry and wet seasons across five municipal local government areas (LGAs) in Ibadan, a large city in southwest Nigeria. A total of 447 water samples (dry season, n = 250; wet season, n = 197) were aseptically collected from a random sample of mapped households within Ibadan's five municipal LGAs. The pH values and total aerobic and coliform bacterial counts were measured, and samples were screened for Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Shigella, and Yersinia by standard phenotypic techniques and multiplex polymerase chain reaction. The most common source of water was well (53.2%), followed by borehole (34%). None of the households used municipal tap water. Cumulatively, aerobic (P = 0.0002) and coliform (P = 0.0001) counts as well as pH values (P = 0.0002) changed significantly between seasons, with increasing and decreasing counts depending on the LGA. Nonpotable water samples were found to be very common during the dry (86.8%) and wet (74.1%) seasons. Escherichia coli spp., as indicators of recent fecal contamination, were isolated from 115 (25.7%) of the household water sources. Thirty three Salmonella, four enteroaggregative E. coli, and four enterotoxigenic E. coli isolates but no Shigella or Yersinia isolates were identified. This study revealed the absence of treated tap water and the poor quality of alternative sources with detectable pathogens in municipal Ibadan. Addressing the city-wide lack of access to potable water is an essential priority for preventing a high prevalence of feco-orally transmitted infections.

Case series and literature review of chlamydial ophthalmia neonatorum in Botswana

BACKGROUND

We describe 12 cases of chlamydial ophthalmia neonatorum and the current scientific evidence on its prevention and treatment. The data presented were obtained from the "Maduo" study, a prospective observational study of the relationship between curable sexually transmitted infections and adverse neonatal outcomes at four antenatal clinics in Gaborone, Botswana.

METHODS

Infants of mothers with perinatal chlamydia infection were evaluated for chlamydial ophthalmia neonatorum based on clinical presentation of conjunctivitis or positive test via GeneXpert CT/NG assay. Data on 29 infants born to mothers with postnatal C. trachomatis infection were analysed.

RESULTS

12 infants were diagnosed with chlamydial ophthalmia neonatorum. Eight of those cases were confirmed with the GeneXpert CT/NG assay while four were identified as probable cases based on clinical history and presentation. Overall, nine infants presented with signs of conjunctivitis, while three who had a positive diagnostic test result had asymptomatic infection. All but one infant had received ocular 1% tetracycline prophylaxis at birth, and four infants had signs suggestive of chlamydial pneumonia at presentation. Two out of five symptomatic cases whose mothers reported completion of their treatment course with erythromycin had lingering symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings affirm that the current prophylaxis and treatment modalities for chlamydial ophthalmia neonatorum are inadequate. To the extent feasible in low- and middle-income countries, we recommend implementation of routine C. trachomatis screening and treatment in pregnant women.

Prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection and associated factors among asymptomatic pregnant women in Botswana

BACKGROUND

Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (N. gonorrhoeae) are curable sexually transmitted infections (STIs) that cause adverse pregnancy and neonatal outcomes. Most countries, including Botswana, do not offer C. trachomatis or N. gonorrhoeae screening during antenatal care (ANC) and instead use a syndromic approach for management of STIs.

METHODS

The Maduo Study is a prospective, cluster-controlled trial in Botswana evaluating the impact of diagnostic screening for antenatal C. trachomatis and N. gonorrhoeae infections to prevent adverse neonatal outcomes. Using baseline data from the Maduo Study (March 2021-March 2022), we determined the prevalence of C. trachomatis and N. gonorrhoeae infection among asymptomatic pregnant women in Botswana and correlates of infection using multivariable logistic regression.

RESULTS

Of 251 women who underwent C. trachomatis and N. gonorrhoeae screening at first ANC visit, 55 (21.9%, 95%CI 17.0-27.5) tested positive for C. trachomatis, 1 (0.4%, 95%CI 0-2.2) for N. gonorrhoeae; and 2 (0.8%, 95%CI 0-2.8) for dual C. trachomatis and N. gonorrhoeae infection. Older age was associated with lower odds (aOR 0.93; 95%CI 0.88-0.98; p = 0.011) while any alcohol use during pregnancy was associated with higher odds (aOR = 3.53; 95%CI 1.22-10.16; p = 0.020) of testing positive for C. trachomatis or N. gonorrhoeae.

CONCLUSIONS

A high frequency of C. trachomatis infections was detected among asymptomatic pregnant women in Botswana indicating that many antenatal STIs are missed by the syndromic management approach. Our results highlight the need for diagnostic C. trachomatis screening during ANC in Botswana and other low- and middle-income countries that rely solely on the syndromic approach for management of STIs.