Etiology of persistent tubo-ovarian abscess in Nairobi, Kenya.
OBJECTIVE
To study the microbial etiology of tubo-ovarian abscess (TOA).


METHODS
We recruited 11 women in Nairobi, Kenya who failed antibiotic therapy alone and required surgical drainage of a presumptive TOA. Pus from the nine abscesses and two pyosalpinges were collected and cultured for aerobic, facultative and anaerobic microorganisms.


RESULTS
Eleven women suspected of having a TOA were hospitalized and treated for a median of 6 days (range 3-14 days) prior to surgical drainage of the abscess. Nine (82%) specimens were culture positive. Aerobes were present in all nine specimens. Seven of the nine positive cultures (78%) were polymicrobial and five of the polymicrobial cultures contained both anaerobes and aerobes. Anaerobic Gram-negative bacilli (Prevotella sp., Porphyromonas sp. and Bacteroides sp., Escherichia coli) and Streptococcus sp. (S. viridans and S. agalactiae) were the most common microorganisms isolated. Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis were not isolated by culture or detected by polymerase chain reaction.


CONCLUSIONS
In Kenya, persistent TOAs are associated with endogenous flora similar to that normally found in the gastrointestinal tract.
Cohen
Craig R
CR
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-6460, USA. crcohen@u.washington.edu
Gravelle
Lisa
L
Symekher
Samwel
S
Waiyaki
Peter
P
Stamm
Walter E
WE
Kiehlbauch
Julia A
JA
D000038:Abscess / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D000328:Adult; D001421:Bacteria, Anaerobic / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007630:Kenya / Q000453:epidemiology; D009869:Oophoritis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D034161:Pelvic Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D012008:Recurrence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012488:Salpingitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014505:Urban Population