Microbiological screening and postoperative course in patients undergoing first trimester abortion

: Pelvic infections are a serious and widespread gynecological disease, often leading to sterility. Procedures like evacuation of the products of conception by vacuum suction are known to facilitate their appearance. 300 patients were examined the same day of the abortion (first trimester); before the hysterosuction a vaginal tampon was taken from the cervix and from the posterior fornix. The patients were invited to come back for an exam in two weeks and to refer to the clinic for any problem before then. A wet mount, aerobic and anaerobic cultures in several media and Gram stains were used to identify the pathogens. 40.3% of the tampons were positive for pathogens, mostly staphilococci (52%), but also Candida, alfa and beta hemolytic Streptococci, Proteus, E. Coli, Trichomonas. 5 patients had serious complications that required hospital admission. Only 128 patients showed up for the postoperative control; of these, 14 presented with symptoms of pelvic infection. Since pelvic infections are the most frequent complication after induced abortion, and considering the larege number of women who carry vaginal pathogens, the Authors strongly recommend a guided antibiotic profilaxis before the hysterosuction operation.