title: Pelvic inflammatory disease: identifying research gaps--proceedings of a workshop sponsored by Department of Health and Human Services/National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, November 3-4, 2011.
abstract: In November 2011, the National Institutes of Health convened a workshop of basic researchers, epidemiologists, and clinical experts in pelvic inflammatory disease to identify research gaps hindering advances in diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. This article summarizes the presentations, discussions, and conclusions of this group and highlights significant controversies that reveal aspects of pelvic inflammatory disease research that would most greatly benefit from the application of newer molecular, immunologic, and radiologic techniques. Multiple limitations to performing new clinical trials exist; however, emerging data from ongoing clinical trials will add to the current body of knowledge regarding prevention and treatment strategies. In addition, use of established health care databases could serve as a valuable tool for performance of unbiased epidemiologic outcome studies.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA; and.
authors.forename: Toni
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Darville
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000639:trends*; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control; D003245:Consensus Statements as Topic; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004716:Endometritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology; D004717:Endometrium / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000191:economics; D008403:Mass Screening; D009175:Mycoplasma Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D045704:Mycoplasma genitalium / Q000302:isolation & purification; D054579:National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (U.S.); D009316:National Institutes of Health (U.S.); D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D000292:Pelvic Inflammatory Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color / Q000191:economics; D014481:United States; D014483:United States Dept. of Health and Human Services
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D015415:Biomarkers