title: Microbiological pattern of the contents of pelvic abscess at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.
abstract: A retrospective analysis of 49 cases of pelvic abscess over a 10-year study period spanning 1 January 1989 to 31 December 1998 was undertaken. Forty-one patients had laparotomy to drain the pelvic abscess, while eight had colpotomy. The volume of pus drained at surgery ranged between 10 ml and 3.5 l for laparotomy, with a median value of 500 ml and 100 ml to 1 l with a median of 200 ml for colpotomy. There was no significant difference in these values. Swabs for bacteriological cultures were taken at surgery and results available in 18 patients. In two patients (11%) the cultures were sterile. In the positive cultures, Escherichia coli was isolated in seven patients. Klebsiella species and Staphylococcus aureus were isolated in four patients each. It is important to know the causative organisms for this infection in our environment because pelvic abscess is the end stage in the progression of a treatable genital tract infection and is frequently an unnecessary complication that is very expensive to treat.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. uchmed@skannet.com
authors.forename: C O
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Aimakhu
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Olayemi
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Odukogbe
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000601:surgery; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004322:Drainage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009549:Nigeria; D010388:Pelvis; D012189:Retrospective Studies