Infectious complications after chorionic villus sampling (CVS) are rare (<0.1%) but can lead to maternal sepsis and spontaneous abortion. We report the first bacteremia with Atopobium vaginae and suggest A. vaginae to be a pathogenic microorganism that can lead to intrauterine infection and fetal death following CVS.
CASE REPORTA 40-year-old woman, gravida 7, para 3, underwent transcervical chorionic villus sampling (CVS) in the 12th week of pregnancy for advanced maternal age. Her obstetric history revealed three healthy children, one spontaneous miscarriage, one induced abortion, and an ectopic pregnancy with tubal removal. Her medical history revealed a mild diaphragmatic hernia for which she used acid secretion inhibitors. The CVS was done under ultrasound guidance using a biopsy forceps. In a single attempt, 30 mg of villi were obtained without complications.In the days following the CVS procedure, the patient developed fever with temperature up to 40°C and vomiting. Seven days after the CVS, she visited the emergency room for ongoing fever and chills; there was no abdominal pain or vaginal blood loss. Laboratory results were as follows: Hb, 10.8 g/dl; white blood count, 2.5 ϫ 10 9 /liter (89.6% neutrophils); C-reactive protein, 222 mg/liter. On X-ray and abdominal ultrasound no signs of pneumonia or abdominal focus were found and a normal fetal heartbeat was observed. The patient was admitted. A blood culture (including two bottles, for aerobic and anaerobic incubation, respectively) and a cervix sample were taken, after which antibiotic treatment was initiated with intravenous cefuroxime (750 mg, three times a day [t.i.d.]). Three days later, the patient developed cramping abdominal pain and had blood-stained vaginal discharge. By ultrasonography, fetal death was observed. The abortion started spontaneously but had to be completed by aspiration curettage. Following the procedure, the temperature normalized and cefuroxime therapy was ended (day 4). The patient was discharged from the hospital at day 5 after admission. At the day of discharge, the anaerobic blood culture bottle became positive with Atopobium vaginae (see below), after which amoxicillin (1 g, four times a day [q.i.d.]) was prescribed for 2 weeks.Microbiological data. No cultures of the cervix or vagina were done before the CVS procedure since the patient had no symptoms of vaginitis or bacterial vaginosis.At hospital admission, a sample of the cervix and one set of blood cultures were taken before antibiotics were initiated. A urinary culture and three more blood cultures were taken in the next 14 h. Microscopic examination and culture of the urinary sample were not indicative for an infection. The culture of the cervix smear yielded no Neisseria gonorrhoeae, no group B beta-hemolytic streptococci, and no yeasts. However, a culture of small grayish nonhemolytic colonies grew on the blood plate in an anaerobic environment. Gram staining showed Gram-positive rod-shaped organisms which were considered a nonpathogenic component of the vaginal fl...