Significance of endometrial cultures performed at cesarean section

To determine the bacterial pathogenesis of postcesarean endomyometritis, swab endometrial cultures of the lower uterine segment were taken intraoperatively in 160 cases. Both aerobic and anaerobic cultures were obtained. Of all patients, 16.8% developed endomyometritis. There was a statistically significant relationship between positive cultures and the development of endomyometritis. The organisms isolated were those commonly found in other types of pelvic infection: pathogenic aerobes and anaerobes as well as commensals. An average of 1.3 organisms were recovered per patient with positive cultures. An analysis is provided for findings depending on the status of membranes and the influence of labor. The following risk factors were identified for the development of endomyometritis: primary cesarean section, labor, ruptured membranes, and postoperative hematocrit. Implications of these findings and a review of similar studies is provided.