Microbiology and pathogenesis of acute salpingitis as determined by laparoscopy: what is the appropriate site to sample?
Sweet, R.L.; Draper, D.L.; Schachter, J.; James, J.; Hadley, W.K.; Brooks, G.F.
American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 138(7 Part 2): 985-989
1980
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-9378 PMID: 6451179 DOI: 10.1016/0002-9378(80)91093-5Document Number: 497067
Acute salpingitis is a polymicrobial disease. Neisseria gonorrhoeae and anaerobic gram-positive cocci were the predominant microorganisms isolated from the fallopian tubes of salpingitis patients. Gonococci were isolated from the fallopian tubes in eight of 35 (23%) patients; anaerobic bacteria were recovered from 10 of 35 (28.5%). Although Chlamydia trachomatis was not recovered from the fallopian tube exudate, there was abundant serologic evidence of chlamydial infection in the salpingitis patients. Twenty-three percent of patients with paired sera had a fourfold rise in IgM and IgG titer, which was consistent with systemic chlamydial infection. Comparison of cultures obtained via laparoscopy and culdocentesis suggested that culdocentesis is not an accurate reflection of the microbial milieu in the fallopian tube.