title: The role of genital pathogens in morbidity following diathermy loop excision of the transformation zone of the uterine cervix.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the role of genital pathogens in postoperative morbidity following diathermy loop excision of the transformation zone (LETZ) of the uterine cervix.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) who underwent diathermy LETZ were included in a prospective study. Cervical swabs for genital pathogens were collected before the diathermy procedure. After surgery, women were followed-up regarding the occurrence and severity of postoperative pain, bleeding, and discharge.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Genital pathogens were present in 463 of 788 (58.8%) cases. The most frequently isolated groups of microorganisms were group B β-hemolytic Streptococcus, α-hemolytic Streptococcus, Enterococcus species, and coliforms. In patients with genital pathogens, postoperative pain was present in 298 (37.8%), discharge in 262 (33.2%), and bleeding in 236 (29.9%) cases. In patients without genital pathogens, 199 (25.3%) experienced pain, 181 (23.0%) discharge, and 143 (18.1%) bleeding. The differences between the 2 groups were not statistically significant (χ(2) for pain=0.675; χ(2) for discharge=0.031; χ(2) for bleeding=3.444; P>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Genital pathogens are very common among patients with CIN and do not affect the occurrence or severity of pain, discharge, or postoperative bleeding after diathermy LETZ.
authors.affiliation: University Clinical Department of Gynecology and Perinatology, University Clinical Center Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Darja
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Arko
authors.forename: Andraž
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dovnik
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fokter
authors.forename: Iztok
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Takač
mesh_terms: D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000601:surgery*; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000382:microbiology*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004564:Electrocoagulation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004755:Enterobacteriaceae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016983:Enterococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000382:microbiology; D019106:Postoperative Hemorrhage / Q000382:microbiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D019522:Vaginal Discharge / Q000382:microbiology