Aerobic and anaerobic microbiology of Bartholin's abscess

Aspirates of pus from an abscess of Bartholin's gland in 28 patients were studied for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. Bacterial growth was obtained on culture in 26 specimens. A total of 67 bacterial isolates (43 anaerobic and 24 aerobic and facultative) were recovered, accounting for 2.6 isolates per specimen (1.7 anaerobic and 0.9 aerobic and facultatives). Anaerobic bacteria only were present in eight patients, aerobic and facultatives in five and mixed aerobic and anaerobic flora in 13. Single bacterial isolates were recovered in six infections. The predominant anaerobic organisms were Bacteroides species (23 isolates, including six Bacteroides melaninogenicus group, five Bacteroides fragilis group and four Bacteroides bivius) and Peptostreptococcus species. The predominant aerobic and facultative bacteria were Escherichia coli and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. In this study, the polymicrobial nature of abscess of Bartholin's gland is highlighted.