Complications associated with genital colonization in pregnancies with and without cerclage.

Cultures from the cervical milieu were taken from 24 antibiotic-treated patients (group A) and from 25 patients with no antibiotic treatment (group B). Both groups had undergone cerclage and were compared to 30 randomly chosen pregnant patients without cerclage (group C). Positive cultures were obtained in 70.8% and 48% before cerclage and in 66.7% and 68% after cerclage in groups A and B, respectively. These were not significantly different from group C (56.7%). Escherichia coli was found in over 75% of positive cultures. The rate of premature deliveries and premature rupture of the membranes were significantly higher in the cerclage groups. Maternal morbidity was significantly higher in group A compared to B and C. Our data suggest that bacterial colonization of the cervix and the vagina is not influenced by cerclage and antibiotics. It is concluded that cervical cerclage is associated with increased morbidity, therefore it is indicated only for definite anatomic and/or functional defects.