FEMALE GENITAL-TRACT ABSCESS FORMATION IN THE RAT - USE OF PATHOGENS INCLUDING ENTEROCOCCI

Previous animal experiments utilizing bowel flora have demonstrated sy nergy between various aerobes and anaerobes in the formation of intraa bdominal abscesses. In these experiments, human female genital tract i solates were inserted into the abdominal and pelvic cavities of 151 fe male Sprague-Dawley rats. Inoculation with any single species of organ ism-Streptococcus faecalis, Enterobacter cloacae or Bacteroides bivius or a combination of two facultative organisms (S faecalis plus E cloa cae)-did not result in a significant increase in abscess formation. Co mbination of a facultative organism or organisms with the anaerobe B b ivius or S faecalis plus B bivius plus E cloacae resulted in 55% (P <. 01) and 74% (P <.0005) rates of abscess formation, respectively, as co mpared with controls. Combinations including B fragilis demonstrated s imilar results. Thus, female genital tract facultative organisms demon strate synergy in the presence of anaerobic organisms in the developme nt of abscesses.