Bacterial flora of the cervix from 100 prehysterectomy patients

Abstract

Although anaerobic bacteria are being reported more frequently as causes of pelvic infections, few investigators have carefully studied these organisms in the normal female genital flora. This study describes the aerobic and anaerobic flora of 100 women prior to their undergoing hysterectomy. Anaerobic organisms were isolated from 86 per cent of the cultures in combination with aerobic organisms. Of the anaerobes the gram-positive cocci were the most common isolates (154 isolates in 74 cultures). The anaerobic gram-positive rods (41 isolates in 58 cultures) were second, followed by the anaerobic gram-negative rods (32 isolates in 29 cultures) and the anaerobic gram-negative cocci (16 isolates in 15 cultures). The grampositive cocci were most prevalent aerobic organisms isolated (149 isolates in 85 cultures).