Microbiology and management of polymicrobial female genital tract infections in adolescents

Abstract

This review describes the microbiology and management of female genital tract infections in adolescents. These infections include vulvovaginitis, vulvovaginal pyogenic infections (abscesses of Bartholin's and Skene's glands, infected labial inclusion cysts, labial abscesses, furunculosis, and hidradenitis), endometritis, pyometritis, salpingitis, pelvic inflammatory disease, and tubo-ovarian and pelvic abscess. Anaerobes can be cultured in 50% to 90% of females with a variety of genital infections and are the exclusive isolates in 20% to 50%. Obligate anaerobes are particularly common in closed-space infections, such as tubo-ovarian and vulvovaginal abscesses. The most common anaerobes found in these infections are gram-negative bacilli (especially P. bivia and P. disiens) and anaerobic cocci. Anaerobes generally are not the only pathogens found, but are usually mixed with aerobes. The most common aerobic pathogens are members of the Enterobacteriaceae family, especially E. coli, and aerobic or microaerophilic streptococci. Sexually acquired infections include Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Gardnerella vaginalis, Trichomonas vaginalis, Chlamydia trachomatis, herpes simplex, and Condyloma accuminata. Treatment regimens must provide antimicrobial coverage for N gonorrhoeae, C trachomatis, anaerobes, streptococci, and gram-negative facultative bacteria.