Bacteriology of Deep Tissue Cultures from Chronic Cervicitis.

Abstract

This study of chronic cervicitis deals with the bacteriological examination of organisms in the depths of the ground tissue and also with the histopathological investigation of the sections. Chronic cervicitis is due to a persistent infection in the depths of the compound racemose glands, characterized pathologically by a periglandular round cell infiltration. The cervix, after the primary insult, either from a previous gonorrhoeal infection, the effects of childbirth, or other factors, forms a favorable habitat for the secondary invaders. Menge and Kronig, Arnold and Brody, Barrett, Lash and Pilot, Moench, Pilot and Kantor, and Taylor and Wright are agreed as to the various organisms found on the surface of the pathologic cervical canal; but no mention has been made of the bacterial flora in the depths of the glands. The cervical tissue was enucleated by Sturmdorf's technique using ether, the electric cautery knife or scalpel. The sterilized enucleated cervix was immediately placed in a small sterile glass jar with a cork stopper and examined within one-half to 2 hours. The culture media was dextrose infusion broth 2%, Bacto dehydrated medium veal infusion p H 7.3, blood agar (human blood 10%), plain agar and egjg yolk agar plates. At times 20% ascitic fluid was added to the veal infusion and to the blood agar plates. Ten cc. of veal infusion was used mainly, in test tubes, for inoculation from the surface, and small flasks containing 100 cc. for the ground tissue. Cultured aerobically and anaerobically at 37.5°C, 24 to 48 hours or longer. Smears from cultures were stained by Gram's method. The pyrogallic acid potassium hydrox method in a desiccator was used for anaerobiosis. The terminal hydrogen ion concentration was determined between 5 or 10 days' incubation.