From the Research
Causes of Bartholin's Abscess
- The common cause of a Bartholin's abscess is an infection, often caused by opportunistic bacteria 1, 2, 3, 4.
- The most frequent pathogens isolated from Bartholin's abscesses are aerobic or facultative bacteria, with Escherichia coli being the most common isolate 1, 2, 3, 4.
- Anaerobic or microaerophilic bacteria can also cause Bartholin's abscess, with Bacteroides species and Prevotella species being commonly identified 2.
- Sexually transmitted pathogens, such as Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis, are rarely involved in the pathogenesis of Bartholin's abscess 1, 2, 4.
- Polymicrobial infections, involving multiple types of bacteria, are common in Bartholin's abscesses 1, 2, 3, 4.
Risk Factors
- Women who are at risk of acquiring sexually transmitted infections are more likely to develop a Bartholin's abscess 5.
- However, other causes of infection should be investigated to exclude other causes of disease 5.
Microbiological Characteristics
- Pus cultures are positive in approximately 60% of cases, with Escherichia coli being the single most frequent pathogen found 3, 4.
- Culture-positive cases are significantly associated with fever, leukocytosis, and neutrophilia 4.
- Infection with E coli is significantly more common in recurrent infections compared to primary infections 4.