Endometrial and vaginal cuff bacteria recovered at elective hysterectomy during a trial of antibiotic prophylaxis.

The utility of culturing the cut edge of the vaginal cuff and endometrium of the uterine specimens of patients undergoing elective hysterectomy and receiving antibiotic prophylaxis has been critically examined. Subjects for this study represent a randomized subpopulation of patients participating in a larger controlled, prospective, double-blind study of antibiotic prophylaxis which has been conducted at Yale-New Haven Hospital during the past five years. On the basis of the organisms recovered, speculation is raised concerning the existence of an endometrial flora and the mechanisms of postoperative vaginal cuff infection in patients treated and not treated with antibiotic prophylaxis at the time of hysterectomy.