5-Minute Emergency Consult
Bartholin Abscess
Basics
Description
Description
- The Bartholin glands are located inferiorly on either side of vaginal opening at the 4 and 8 o'clock positions
- These glands play an important role in the female reproductive system
- Main function is to secrete mucus and provide lubrication
- Ducts open on sides of labial vestibule
- Obstruction of duct usually produces a cyst presenting as a painless lump:
- Infection of these cysts result in abscess formation
Epidemiology
Epidemiology
Prevalence
Most common in women aged 20–30 yr of age
Etiology
Etiology
- Polymicrobial including anaerobic and aerobic microflora normally found in vagina:
- Escherichia coli – most common
- Bacteroides species
- Staphylococcus aureus
- Group B strep
- Enterococcus species
- Occasionally Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis
Risk Factors
Risk Factors
- Previous history of Bartholin cyst
- Multiple sexual partners
- Sexually transmitted infection
- Vulva trauma
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Citation
Schaider, Jeffrey J., et al., editors. "Bartholin Abscess." 5-Minute Emergency Consult, 5th ed., Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2016. Emergency Central, emergency.unboundmedicine.com/emergency/view/5-Minute_Emergency_Consult/307083/all/Bartholin_Abscess.
Bartholin Abscess. In: Schaider JJJ, Barkin RMR, Hayden SRS, et al, eds. 5-Minute Emergency Consult. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2016. https://emergency.unboundmedicine.com/emergency/view/5-Minute_Emergency_Consult/307083/all/Bartholin_Abscess. Accessed December 4, 2023.
Bartholin Abscess. (2016). In Schaider, J. J., Barkin, R. M., Hayden, S. R., Wolfe, R. E., Barkin, A. Z., Shayne, P., & Rosen, P. (Eds.), 5-Minute Emergency Consult (5th ed.). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. https://emergency.unboundmedicine.com/emergency/view/5-Minute_Emergency_Consult/307083/all/Bartholin_Abscess
Bartholin Abscess [Internet]. In: Schaider JJJ, Barkin RMR, Hayden SRS, Wolfe RER, Barkin AZA, Shayne PP, Rosen PP, editors. 5-Minute Emergency Consult. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2016. [cited 2023 December 04]. Available from: https://emergency.unboundmedicine.com/emergency/view/5-Minute_Emergency_Consult/307083/all/Bartholin_Abscess.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
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ED - Hayden,Stephen R,
ED - Wolfe,Richard E,
BT - 5-Minute Emergency Consult
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PB - Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
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DB - Emergency Central
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