Bacteriologic findings of post-cesarean endometritis in adolescents

Two hundred four post-cesarean adolescents were compared with 751 adults to determine whether age was a risk factor for endometritis. Adolescents had an infection rate of 23%, compared with 11% for controls (P <.001). Length of labor, duration of ruptured membranes, and the use of an internal monitor were noted to be risk factors for endometritis in adults, but not in adolescents. Endometrial aspirates from adolescents exhibited significantly higher isolation rates of Chlamydia trachomatis (21 versus 6%, P <.05) and Gardnerella vaginalis (32 versus 9%, P <.005) than did those from adults. Antepartum isolation of these organisms in teenagers may help to identify those at risk for postpartum endometritis.