title: Conservative management of PID.
abstract: The goals in the management of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) are not only treatment of the infection and prevention of immediate complications, but also prevention of its long-term consequences. There are criteria for hospitalization, but patients who do not meet them can be safely treated as outpatients. A variety of sexually transmitted and other microorganisms can cause this infection, but the most important are Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Regimens with activity against gonococci, chlamydiae, streptococci, gram-negative bacteria, and anaerobes should be administered. Several such antimicrobial regimens have shown very good clinical and microbiologic efficacy. However, their efficacy in preventing long-term complications, such as infertility, has not been established. Close follow-up is an important part of management. Evaluation of male sexual partners is imperative to prevent reinfection. Better diagnostic techniques and treatment modalities for PID must be developed to prevent its long-term consequences.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Therapeutics, University of Athens School of Medicine, Alexandra Hospital, Greece. athena@otenet.gr
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Georgilis
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000209:etiology; D000292:Pelvic Inflammatory Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents