Anaerobic bacteria in uterine infection following first trimester abortion

Samples of uterine fluid and cervical mucus for bacterial culture were obtained from 23 patients with endometritis following first trimester abortion. Uterine samples were obtained via a sheathed system which minimizes contamination by the cervical flora. A mean of 3.4 isolates were identified in cervical samples as compared to 1.8 in uterine samples. Anaerobic bacteria were found in 57% of the uterine samples and dominated in both uterine and cervical samples. Peptostreptococcus species dominated in cervical samples and Bacteroides species in uterine samples. Significantly more bacterial species were found in uterine samples from patients with a high erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Since no bacteria were found in 39% of uterine samples a possible role of nonmicrobial pyrogenic substances is suggested.