QUANTITATIVE TRANS-CERVICAL UTERINE CULTURES WITH A NEW DEVICE

Abstract

The ability of a new device to take transcervical cultures of the endometrial cavity in the normal and postpartum uterus was studied. Quantitative bacteriologic assessments were made. There was a million-fold increase in the mean concentration of bacteria cultured from the infected puerperal uterus when contrasted with cultures from nonpregnant women and those who have just undergone repeat cesarean section. The new device obtains cultures transcervically with marked reduction in contamination; some method for quantification of bacterial populations must complement the culture so that results differentiate between colonization and infection.