3. Definition
Spectrum of infection and inflammation of the
upper genital tract organs typically involving the
uterus(endometrium), fallopian tubes, ovaries,
pelvic peritoneum and surrounding structures.
4. Risk factors
Menstruating teenagers
Multiple sexual partners
Absence of contraceptive pills
Previous history of acute PID
IUD users
Area with high prevalence of STDs
5. Transmission
Usually a polymicrobial infection caused by
organisms ascending upstairs from downstairs.
Primary organisms :
N. gonorrhoeae 30%
Chlamydia trachomatis 30%
Mycoplama hominis 10%
Secondary organisms:
Aerobic : Non hemolytic streptococcus
Anaerobic : Bacteroids
Peptostreptococcus
6. Route :
Through mucosal continuity and contiguity
Reflux of menstrual blood into fallopian tubes
Spread across parametrium e.g. Mycoplasma
hominis
Lymphatics
From gut(rarely)
8. Clinical Features
Fever > 38⁰C
B/L lower abdominal tenderness with radiation to
the legs
Abnormal vaginal discharge
Deep dyspareunia
On bimanual examination:
Cervical motion tenderness
Adnexal tenderness
9. Clinical Diagnostic Criteria(FOGSI-
ICOG)
Minimum criteria:
Lower abdominal tenderness
Adnexal tenderness
Cervical motion tenderness
Additional criteria:
Oral temperature > 38.3⁰C
Mucopurulent cervical or vaginal discharge
Raised C- reactive protein &/or ESR
Laboratory documentation of positive cervical
infection with Gonorrhoea or C. trachomatis
10. Definitive criteria:
Histopathologic evidence of endometritis on biopsy
Imaging study (TVS / MRI) evidence of thickened
fluid filled tubes ± tubo-ovarian complex
Laparoscopic evidence of PID
11. CINICAL STAGES OF ACUTE
PID
Stage I : Acute salpingitis w/o peritonitis
Stage II : Acute salpingitis with peritonitis
Stage III : Acute salpingitis with superimposed
tubal occlusion or tubo-ovarian
complex
Stage IV : Ruptured tubo-ovarian abscess
Stage V : Tubercular salpingitis
12. Investigations
Identification of organisms:
Discharge from urethra or Bartholin’s gland
Cervical canal
Collected pus from fallopian tubes during laparotomy or
laparoscopy
Blood:
Leucocytosis and an elevated ESR value > 15mm/hr
Sonography:
Dilated and fluid filled tubes
Fluid in Pouch of Douglas
Adnexal masses
13. Laparoscopy:
Gold standard
Reserved only in those cases in which differential
diagnosis includes salpingitis, appendicitis or ectopic
pregnancy
Mild: Tubes – Edema, Erythema, No purulent
exudates and mobile
Moderate: Purulent exudates from the fimbrial ends,
Tubes not freely mobile
Severe: Pyosalpinx, Inflammatory complex, Abscess
Violin string like adhesions in the pelvis and around
the liver suggests chlamydial infection (Fitz- Hugh-
Curtis Syndrome)
Culdocentesis:
Aspiration of peritoneal fluid and its white cell count,
14.
15. Symptoms & Signs Acute Salpingitis Acute Appendicitis Disturbed Ectopic
Pain Acute lower
abdominal on both
the sides
Starts near
umbilicus but settles
to right iliac fossa
Acute lower
abdominal on one
side
Amenorrhea &
bleeding PV
Unrelated Unrelated Usually present
Nausea & vomiting Inconsistently
present
Usual Absent
General look Face- flushed Toxic Pale
Tongue No significant
change
Furred Pale
Temperature More raised Slightly raised Not raised
Tenderness Lower abdomen on
both sides
On Mc Burney’s
point
Lower abdomen
more on one side
Pulse Rapid but
proportionate with
temperature
Rapid, out of
proportion to
temperature
Persistent rise even
with normal
temperature
Per vaginum Tenderness on both
fornices. A mass
may be felt
Tenderness on right
fornix and high up
Mass may be felt
through one fornix
extending up to
pouch of Douglas
16. ICOG Guidelines for Outpatient
therapy
Regimen A:
Oral Ofloxacin 400mg BD PLUS oral Metronidazole
400mg BD for 14 days
Oral Levofloxacin 500mg OD PLUS oral
Metronidazole 400mg BD for 14 days
Regimen B:
IM Ceftriaxone 250mg single dose or IM Cefoxitin
2gm single dose with oral Probenecid 1gm followed
by oral Doxycycline 100mg BD PLUS oral
Metronidazole 400mg BD for 14 days
The patient should be re-evaluated after 48hrs
and if no response, are to be hospitalised.
17. Criteria for hospitalization
Inability to exclude surgical emergency (e.g.
appendicitis)
Presence of tubo-ovarian abscess
PID in pregnancy
Clinically severe disease
Failure to respond to outpatient oral therapy
Intolerance to oral therapy (e.g. severe nausea/
vomiting)
18. Inpatient therapy
Regimen A:
Cefoxitin 2gm IV 6hrly or Ceftriaxone 2gm IV infusion
daily + Doxycycline 100mg oral / IV every 12 hrly for 48
hrs followed by oral Doxycycline 100mg BD PLUS oral
Metronidazole 400mg BD for 14 days
Regimen B:
Clindamycin 900mg IV 8 hrly + Gentamicin IV/IM
(2mg/kg load, then 1.5mg/kg 8hrly) for 48hrs followed by
oral Doxycycline 100mg BD PLUS oral Metronidazole
400mg BD for 14 days or oral Clindamycin 450mg 4 times
daily for 14 days
Alternative regimen:
IV Ofloxacin 400mg BD PLUS IV Metronidazole 500mg 8
hrly for 14 days
IV Ciprofloxacin 200mg BD PLUS IV/ oral Doxycycline
100mg BD PLUS IV Metronidazole 500mg TID for 14
days
19. Treatment in pregnancy
In an ongoing intrauterine pregnancy, PID is
extremely rare, except in the case of septic abortion.
Cervicitis may occur and is associated with
increased maternal and fetal morbidity including pre-
term delivery.
Treatment regimens will dependent on organisms
isolated.
A combination of Cefotaxime, Azithromycin and
Metronidazole for 14 days may be used.
20. Treatment in children:
Acute PID is rarely seen in very young girls.
In girls over 12 yrs, Doxycycline can be safely used.
Treatment in a woman with an IUCD:
An IUCD may be left in-situ in women with clinically
mild PID but should be removed in cases of severe
disease and, especially, if symptoms have not
resolved within 72 hrs.
Treatment in a woman with HIV:
Women with PID who are also infected with HIV
should be treated with the same antibiotic regimens
as women who are HIV negative.
Low CD4 count is an indication for hospitalization.
21. Surgical treatment
Indication:
Generalised peritonitis
Pelvic abscess
Tubo-ovarian abscess
Laparotomy/ laparoscopy may help early resolution
of the disease by division of adhesions and drainage
of pelvic abscesses.
Ultrasound-guided aspiration of pelvic fluid
collections is less invasive and may be equally
effective.
It is also possible to perform adhesiolysis in cases of
peri-hepatitis due to Chlamydia.
22. Follow-up
In the outpatient setting, review at 72hrs is
recommended particularly for those with a
moderate or severe clinical presentation.
Failure to improve suggests the need for further
investigations, parenteral therapy and/or surgical
intervention.
A full screen for all STDs including Hepatitis B
and HIV should be offered for persistent
infections.
23. RCOG guidelines
Outpatient therapy:
IM Ceftriaxone 500mg single dose followed by oral
Doxycycline 100mg BD PLUS oral Metronidazole
400mg BD for 14 days
Alternative regimen for outpatient therapy:
IM Ceftriaxone 500mg immediately, followed by
Azithromycin 1gm/week for 2 weeks.
24. COMPLICATIONS
IMMEDIATE:
Pelvic peritonitis or even generalised peritonotis
Septicemia
LATE:
Dyspareunia
Infertility either due to cornual block or damage to
the wall of the tube. Risk increased with severity
and no of episodes.
Chronic PID
Formation of adhesions or Hydrosalpinx or
Pyosalpinx
Tubo-ovarian abscess
Increased risk of ectopic pregnancy (6-10 folds)
25. PREVENTIVE MEASURES
Reproductive Health Education to be given to
young girls.
Importance of menstrual hygiene to be reinforced.
Safe sexual practices to be advocated.
Pamphlets/ Brochures regarding PID.
Awareness program through mass media.
Screening for infections in high risk group
Rapid diagnosis and effective treatment of STDs
& UTI
26. TAKE HOME MESSAGE
Fallopian tubes ultimately bears the brunt of
acute infection.
It is a major problem to the reproductive health of
young women.
It may be asymptomatic or subclinical. Patient
usually presents with chronic symptoms.
The primary organisms of PID are predominantly
sexually transmitted.
Acute PID is polymicrobial in nature. As the
symptoms are non specific, over treatment is
preferred to missed diagnosis.
