Lightning Learning: Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
““Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) is an infection of the female genital tract most common in the 20 to 29-year-old age group.””
What?
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) is an infection of the female genital tract including the uterus, ovaries and fallopian tubes.
Usually caused by an ascending sexually transmitted infection, but can also be caused by infection following termination of pregnancy, post delivery, post operative and if an intrauterine contraceptive device insertion causes infection.
Most commonly occurs in the 20-29 year old age group
Often caused by combination of bacteria. Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea are common culprits. Other organisms include: Gardnerella vaginalis, Mycoplasma hominis, Mobiluncus spp.
Why?
If left untreated, PID can cause serious complications such as infertility and chronic pain.
Antibiotic treatment should not be delayed while waiting for swab results as negative swab results do not conclusively rule out PID.
Advise patients that their partners will need to be tested and they should have a full sexual health check at a GUM clinic.
Treat PID with:
Ceftriaxone 500mg IM or IV stat (for gonococcal cover).
Plus Doxycycline 100mg BD orally and Metronidazole 400 mg BD orally for 14 days (Leicester’s local guideline).
Further Reading
- Patient Info: Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
- LITFL: Newborn Life Support
- UHL: Guidelines for the Management of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) in adults and children over 12 years old (local guideline)
