Etiology of Acute Salpingitis: Influence of Episode Number and Duration of Symptoms

The role of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in the etiology and pathogenesis of acute salpingitis and its relationship to nongonococcal salpingitis were investigated. To accomplish this goal, isolated microorganisms obtained from the fallopian tubes and cul-de-sac via laparoscopy were evaluated in relation to the number of episodes of salpingitis, duration of symptoms, and phase of menstrual cycle at infection onset. The incidence of isolation of N gonorrhoeae was inversely proportional to the number of episodes of salpingitis. No isolation of the gonococcus occurred from patients with 3 or more previous episodes of salpingitis. N gonorrhoeae was the most frequent organism recovered within the initial 24 hours of symptoms. Beyond 48 hours, the most frequent isolates were anaerobic bacteria, especially anaerobic cocci. Anaerobic bacteria were also recovered from the fallopian tubes in patients having their initial episode of salpingitis and within 24 hours of onset of symptoms. All fallopian tube isolates of gonococci were recovered within 7 days of the onset of menses.