Abstract
Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the currently most frequent microbial findings in Bartholin's duct abscess.
Methods: Computerized records of microbial findings of 249 cases of Bartholin's duct abscess were retrospectively studied.
Results: In 129 cases, only 1 microbe and, in 117 cases, >1 microbe were recovered. In 3 cases, the flora was recorded as normal for the lower genital tract. Of all bacteria isolated, 252 were aerobic or facultative and 108 were anaerobic or microaerophilic. Aerobic or facultative bacteria alone caused 142 (57%) of the 249 cases, Escherichia coli being the most frequent isolate in this group. Anaerobic or microaerophilic bacteria alone caused 33 cases (13%), Bacteroides species and Prevotella species being most frequently identified. Both aerobic or facultative and anaerobic or microaerophilic bacteria were isolated in 70 cases (28%). Candida albicans alone caused 1 case of Bartholin's duct abscess. The sexually transmitted pathogens Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis were both involved in only 2 cases.
Conclusions: Bartholin's duct abscess was mainly caused by opportunistic bacteria, and sexually transmitted pathogens were only rarely involved in its pathogenesis. Since potentially pathogenic bacterial species were also frequently isolated, the use of antibiotics to complement the surgical treatment of Bartholin's duct abscess seems advisable, especially in patients with systemic symptoms.
Full Text
The Full Text of this article is available as a PDF (328.7 KB).
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Bleker O. P., Smalbraak D. J., Schutte M. F. Bartholin's abscess: the role of Chlamydia trachomatis. Genitourin Med. 1990 Feb;66(1):24–25. doi: 10.1136/sti.66.1.24. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Brihmer C., Kallings I., Nord C. E., Brundin J. Salpingitis; aspects of diagnosis and etiology: a 4-year study from a Swedish capital hospital. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 1987 Mar;24(3):211–220. doi: 10.1016/0028-2243(87)90020-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Brook I. Aerobic and anaerobic microbiology of Bartholin's abscess. Surg Gynecol Obstet. 1989 Jul;169(1):32–34. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Carson G. D., Smith L. P. Escherichia coli endotoxic shock complicating Bartholin's gland abscess. Can Med Assoc J. 1980 Jun 21;122(12):1397–1398. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Cheetham D. R. Bartholin's cyst: marsupialization or aspiration? Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1985 Jul 1;152(5):569–570. doi: 10.1016/0002-9378(85)90626-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Davies J. A., Rees E., Hobson D., Karayiannis P. Isolation of Chlamydia trachomatis from Bartholin's ducts. Br J Vener Dis. 1978 Dec;54(6):409–413. doi: 10.1136/sti.54.6.409. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Eschenbach D. A., Buchanan T. M., Pollock H. M., Forsyth P. S., Alexander E. R., Lin J. S., Wang S. P., Wentworth B. B., MacCormack W. M., Holmes K. K. Polymicrobial etiology of acute pelvic inflammatory disease. N Engl J Med. 1975 Jul 24;293(4):166–171. doi: 10.1056/NEJM197507242930403. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Lee Y. H., Rankin J. S., Alpert S., Daly A. K., McCormack W. M. Microbiological investigation of Bartholin's gland abscesses and cysts. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1977 Sep 15;129(2):150–153. doi: 10.1016/0002-9378(77)90736-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Morton B. D., 3rd, McCarthy L. R. Bartholinitis--an unusual etiologic agent. Obstet Gynecol. 1980 Mar;55(3 Suppl):97S–98S. doi: 10.1097/00006250-198003001-00030. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Rees E. Gonococcal bartholinitis. Br J Vener Dis. 1967 Sep;43(3):150–156. doi: 10.1136/sti.43.3.150. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Shearin R. S., Boehlke J., Karanth S. Toxic shock-like syndrome associated with Bartholin's gland abscess: case report. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1989 May;160(5 Pt 1):1073–1074. doi: 10.1016/0002-9378(89)90163-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Sweet R. L., Draper D. L., Schachter J., James J., Hadley W. K., Brooks G. F. Microbiology and pathogenesis of acute salpingitis as determined by laparoscopy: what is the appropriate site to sample? Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1980 Dec 1;138(7 Pt 2):985–989. doi: 10.1016/0002-9378(80)91093-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Wren M. W. Bacteriological findings in cultures of clinical material from Bartholin's abscess. J Clin Pathol. 1977 Nov;30(11):1025–1027. doi: 10.1136/jcp.30.11.1025. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]