title: Microflora of the cervix during normal labor and the puerperium.
abstract: The normal flora of the cervix was studied in 50 healthy women in labor and on the third day postpartum. Aerobic bacteria were the exclusvie isolates in 25% of these women, and 75% had anaerobic bacteria in addition to aerobes. Anaerobes were always found in association with aerobes. The most frequent isolate of Bacteroides was Bacteroides melaninogenicus, found in 20% of the women during labor and 14% during the puerperium. Bacteroides fragilis was distinctly absent during labor but was found in 6.8% of the women during the puerperium. Clostridia were found in 1% but histotoxic clostridia were not found. None had gram-negative diplococci (Neisseria or Veillonella). Gram-negative diplococci and spore-bearing bacilli visible by gram strain and B. fragilis demonstrated by culture, if present in the cervical specimens obtaineduring labor, should be considered abnormal.
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007743:Labor, Obstetric; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy