Pneumonia caused by Chlamydia trachomatis

Chlamydia trachomatis (a sexually transmissible infection [STI]) can cause pneumonia in infants and should not be confused with Chlamydophila pneumoniae (which is not an STI). Diagnostic assays, such as serology or nucleic acid amplification testing (eg polymerase chain reaction [PCR]), for C. pneumoniae and C. trachomatis are different.

For C. trachomatis pneumonia in infants aged 2 weeks to 5 months, use:

azithromycin 10 mg/kg orally, daily for 3 days. azithromycin azithromycin azithromycin

Neonates with C. trachomatis pneumonia may also have chlamydial conjunctivitis.

Infants with C. trachomatis pneumonia are presumed to have been infected perinatally from their birthing parent (eg mother). Treat the birthing parent of the infected neonate for C. trachomatis infection. For treatment regimens, management of sexual contacts and other information, see Approach to Chlamydia trachomatis infection Australasian Society for Infections Diseases (ASID), 2022.