Bartholin's abscess: the role of Chlamydia trachomatis.

Seventy-seven patients with a Bartholin's gland duct disorder were treated by incision and marsupialisation. At operation 18% were found to have a cyst and 82% an abscess. N gonorrhoea was isolated from four abscesses and C trachomatis from one. Bacteriological examination of the uterine cervix yielded one further case of N gonorrhoea and four more of C trachomatis. N gonorrhoea and C trachomatis are of limited aetiologic importance as causes of Bartholin's duct abscess. However, bacteriological examination for STD of the abscess and the cervix is mandatory because of adequate antibiotic treatment of the patients and their contacts.