Clostridial sepsis after abortion with PGF2alpha and intracervical laminaria tents--a case report

A case of clostridial endomyometritis and sepsis necessitating total abdominal hysterectomy which occurred 12 hours following abortion induced with intraamniotic administration of prostaglandin F2 alpha and laminaria tent insertion is discussed. Cultures from cervical, blood, and surgical specimens all yielded Clostridium perfringens. Intrauterine contamination with this microorganism most likely followed the insertion of laminaria tents through the cervical os, which was colonized with C. perfringens. Since C. perfringens may be present in the microflora of the lower female genital tract, great care must be taken to cleanse this area prior to intracervical laminaria tent insertion.