The bacteriology of Fallopian tubes removed at operation

Abstract

This investigation comprises a study of 72 patients from the wards and private service of the Women's Clinic of the Johns Hopkins Hospital. Seven patients had had a previous history of gonorrheal infection, 40 had doubtful histories and 25 had negative histories.In 1921 Curtis isolated the gonococcus from Fallopian tubes removed at operation in 38 of 192 cases, but gross and microscopically these tubes presented a picture of acute inflammation. Curtis also isolated Escherichia coli, streptococci, and anaerobic streptococci from cases of salpingitis and perisalpingitis. Cordua and Keck in 1926, reported isolating paratyphoid B bacillus from an ovarian abscess. In 1931 Worral reported having isolated Staphylococci from infected Fallopian tubes. Caussade and Giullemin, 1934, isolated the colon bacillus from the tubes of a 12-year-old girl. Brown, 1935, isolated Salmonella newport from a case of bilateral pyosalpinx. Studdiford, Casper, and Scadron, in 1938, reported isolating gonococci from the tubes of 16 of 24 cases studied. The organisms were isolated by culturing pieces of tissue and exudate, never from pus, and occasionally were degenerate in form but rapidly assumed the usual characteristics upon subculture. Thirteen of the specimens yielding gonococci showed pathologic evidence of subacute inflammation, two were acute exacerbations of chronic salpingitis, and one showed evidence of chronic or healed salpingitis with marked structual changes in the walls of the tube. According to Cornell, until 1934 there were 71 published cases of actinomycosis of the internal female genitals. American literature reported seven cases, English literature six, and the remainder were in other languages. Since then cases have been reported by Gardiner and Welsh, 1935; Côte and Tudhope, 1936; De Faria and Fiablo, 1937; Auster, 1940; and Ahumada and Chevalier, 1943.