Microbiological investigation of Bartholin's gland abscesses and cysts

Percutaneous aspirates from intact Bartholin's gland cysts (12) and abscesses (34) were examined for bacteria and genital mycoplasmas. Aspirates from 10 of the 12 patients with Bartholin's gland cysts were sterile. Aspirates from the other two cysts contained organisms that are part of the vaginal microbial flora. Of the 34 abscesses, 24 (70.6 per cent) contained bacteria. Eight abscesses contained gram-negative rods in pure culture and four contained gonococci in pure culture. Twelve abscesses contained one or more vaginal organisms including anaerobic gram-negative rods (eight isolates), anaerobic gram-positive cocci (eight), Staphylococcus epidermidis (four), and microaerophilic streptococci (three). Although most of the patients had genital mycoplasmas isolated from vaginal cultures, Mycoplasma hominis was isolated from only one and Ureaplasma urealyticum from none of the aspirates.