Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)

Acute PID

• An acute clinical syndrome comprising a spectrum of inflammatory disorders of the upper female genital tract, including any combination of endometriosis, salpingitis, tubo-ovarian abscess and pelvic peritonitis.
• The syndrome is due to ascending spread of micro-organisms from the vagina and endocervix to the endometrium, fallopian tubes, ovaries, and peritoneum of the pelvis. 
• The majority of severe acute symptomatic PID (STI in origin) is caused by gonorrhoea, though PID caused by chlamydia may be also present with acute pelvic symptoms, it is more often associated with low-grade symptoms. 
• A role for Mycoplasma genitalium in pelvic inflammatory disease is emerging.

• Similar terms: Acute salpingitis, adnexitis, pelvic peritonitis.

New onset of pelvic pain among women <25 years is highly predictive of PID, excluding surgical emergencies. Risks include recent partner change, partner with STI or STI symptoms, recent intrauterine instrumentation or pregnancy.

The following symptoms may be present:

• Lower abdominal pain -  typically bilateral, may worsen with movement or localise to one side or refer to upper right quadrant. Pain may be acute or chronic and may be misdiagnosed as appendicitis.
• Pain with intercourse
• Pain with periods
• Intermenstrual or post-coital bleedingLower genital tract infection – discharge
• Dysuria (pain on passing urine)
• Heavy periods
• Feeling unwell
• Fever, nausea and vomiting indicate presence of severe infection. Absence of these symptoms does not exclude a diagnosis of PID.

The following signs may be present:

• Abdominal tenderness – guarding or rigidity, rebound tenderness
• Tenderness in one or other adnexa – may be unilateral, or a mass may be felt
• Cervical excitation – pain on rocking the cervix. Speculum examination is recommended to allow for visualisation of the cervix; the presence of mucopurulent discharge in the cervix supports the diagnosis of PID
• Raised temperature (>38 degrees)
• Perihepatitis and peritonitis are possible and present with abdominal pain, tenderness, guarding/rigidity and right upper quadrant pain.

STI Atlas (external site)

• Because of the difficulty of diagnosis and the potential for damage to the reproductive tract, health care providers should have a low threshold for diagnosis and treatment of PID.
• Empirical treatment for PID should be given to sexually active women with pelvic and lower abdominal pain that do not have another cause for their illness and that have one or more of the following minimum criteria:
  
  • Cervical motion, uterine or adnexal tenderness
  • Temperature > 38C
  • Abnormal cervical discharge or friability
  • Positive gonorrhoea, chlamydia or M. genitalium test.
• Begin treatment early. Delayed treatment is associated with a significantly increased risk of tubal infertility or ectopic pregnancy.
• Advise rest and use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications for pain relief.
• Prevent any Candida infection with pessaries during the treatment period.
• Consider admission if:
  
  • Diagnosis uncertain.
  • Surgical emergency such as appendicitis or ectopic pregnancy cannot be excluded.
  • Suspicion or diagnosis of pelvic abscess/tuboovarian abscess.
  • Severe illness, nausea or vomiting or high temperature or no response to outpatient medicine
  • The patient cannot take oral therapy.
  • Pregnancy.
• Advise patient to avoid sexual intercourse until they are non-infectious and symptomatically better.
• Remove intrauterine device (IUD) if no response to treatment in 48-72 hours.

Immediate treatment

• Ceftriaxone 500 mg in 2 mL of 1% lignocaine intramuscularly, as a single dose

PLUS

• Doxycycline 100mg orally, twice daily for 14 days (For patients who may be non-adherent to doxycycline, consider replacing with azithromycin 1g PO, as a further single dose 1 week later)

PLUS

• Metronidazole 400mg orally, twice daily for 14 days

• Ceftriaxone 500mg in 2ml of 1% lignocaine intramuscularly, as a single dose

PLUS

• Metronidazole 400mg orally, twice daily for 14 days

• Doxycycline 100 mg orally, twice daily for 14 weeks (For patients who may be non-adherent to doxycycline, consider replacing with azithromycin 1g PO, as a further single dose 1 week later)

• Ceftriaxone 2g, administered intravenously, daily

OR

• Cefotaxime 2g, administered intravenously, three times daily

PLUS

• Azithromycin 500mg, administered intravenously, daily

PLUS

• Metronizadole 500mg, administered intravenously, twice daily

Special Treatment Situations

If pregnant or breastfeeding, substitute for doxycycline

Women who have had an episode of PID are at increased risk of further episodes: 25% will experience a recurrence. PID is known to be associated with the sequelae of infertility and ectopic pregnancy, especially with repeated infections. Counselling should be undertaken to encourage risk reduction and early presentation if symptoms of STIs and ectopic pregnancy occur.

See also general considerations in STI/HIV counselling.

Women with PID should be advised no sexual contact for 7 days after completion of treatment and to avoid sexual contact with any partners from the last 6 months until 7 days after they have been tested and treated.

It is essential to investigate and treat the partners, who are mostly asymptomatic in cases of PID.

It is important to treat partners, as reinfection increases the risk of tubal infertility and ectopic pregnancy. Current sexual partners should be treated to cover chlamydia (and gonorrhoea if likely) immediately, irrespective of test results.

Where the organism is known and isolated, refer to the relevant STI guideline for contact tracing and treatment recommendations:

• Chlamydia
• Gonorrhoea
• M. genitalium

Partners should be advised no sexual contact for 7 days after completion of treatment and to avoid sexual contact with any other partners from the last 6 months until 7 days after they have been tested and treated.

Follow up in three days, then weekly until the condition has improved or resolved. It is important to monitor patients closely to ensure compliance with medication and resolution of signs and symptoms. Perform a test of cure at four weeks if a gonococcal or chlamydial infection was found.

Intrauterine devices cause little if any increased risk of infection. The risk of PID is primarily limited to the first 3 weeks after insertion and is uncommon thereafter. If an IUD user receives a diagnosis of PID the IUD does not need removal unless there is no clinical improvement after 48-72 hours of treatment.

Barrier contraception is protective.

This is not a notifiable disease, unless a notifiable organism is detected.