Microflora of the cervix during normal labor and the puerperium.

The normal flora of the cervix was studied in 50 healthy women in labor and on the third day postpartum. Aerobic bacteria were the exclusvie isolates in 25% of these women, and 75% had anaerobic bacteria in addition to aerobes. Anaerobes were always found in association with aerobes. The most frequent isolate of Bacteroides was Bacteroides melaninogenicus, found in 20% of the women during labor and 14% during the puerperium. Bacteroides fragilis was distinctly absent during labor but was found in 6.8% of the women during the puerperium. Clostridia were found in 1% but histotoxic clostridia were not found. None had gram-negative diplococci (Neisseria or Veillonella). Gram-negative diplococci and spore-bearing bacilli visible by gram strain and B. fragilis demonstrated by culture, if present in the cervical specimens obtaineduring labor, should be considered abnormal.