201 European Guideline For The Management of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
201 European Guideline For The Management of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
201 European Guideline For The Management of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
1
University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, UK
2
University of Trieste, Italy
3
Department of Dermatology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Policlinico, Italy
4 Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
keywords: pelvic infection, pelvic inflammatory disease, salpingitis, treatment, antibiotics, guideline
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This guideline was produced by the European region of the International Union against Sexually
Transmitted Infections (IUSTI) and refers to ascending infections in the female genital tract
unrelated to delivery and surgery and does not include actinomyces related infection.
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is usually the result of infection ascending from the
Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis have been identified as causative agents,
[1]1 whilst Mycoplasma genitalium is a likely cause,[2] and anaerobes can are also be
coli and H. influenzae are also can be associated with upper genital tract inflammation. Mixed
The relative importance of different pathogens varies in between different countries and regions
within Europe.
young age
multiple partners
past history of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the patient or their partner
termination of pregnancy
hysterosalpingography
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hysteroscopy
in vitro fertilisation
Clinical Features
Symptoms
PID may be symptomatic or asymptomatic. Even when present, clinical symptoms and signs lack
sensitivity and specificity (the positive predictive value of a clinical diagnosis is 65-90% compared
abnormal bleeding – intermenstrual bleeding, post coital bleeding and menorrhagia can occur
bacterial vaginosis
Physical signs
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fever (>38°C)
PID should be considered in a patient with the clinical signs and/or symptoms outlined above.
Differential Diagnosis
ectopic pregnancy
acute appendicitis
endometriosis
Complications
Tuboovarian abscesses and pelvic peritonitis account for the main complications. Acute lower
abdominal pain and fever are usually present. Ultrasound scanning may be useful to confirm a
pelvic abscess while computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging may help rule out
The Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome comprises rRight upper quadrant pain associated with
perihepatitis (Fitz-Hugh Curtis syndrome) can occur and may be the dominant symptom.
Although laparoscopic division of hepatic adhesions has been performed, there is insufficient
clinical trial evidence to make specific recommendations for treatment beyond those for
PIDantibiotic therapy.
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In pregnancy, PID is uncommon but has been associated with an increase in both maternal and
foetal morbidity, therefore parenteral therapy is advised although none of the suggested
evidence based regimens are of proven safety in this situation. There is insufficient data from
clinical trials to recommend a specific regimen for pregnant women with PID and empirical
therapy with agents effective against gonorrhoea, chlamydia and anaerobic infections should be
considered taking into account local antibiotic sensitivity patterns (e.g. i.v. cefoxitin ceftriaxone
2g three timesonce daily plus i.v. erythromycin 50mg/kg continuous infusiononce daily, with
the possible addition of i.v. metronidazole 500mg three times dailygiven orally [400mg twice
daily], per rectum [1g three times daily] or i.v. [500mg three times daily])
Women with HIV may have more severe symptoms associated with PID but respond well to
There is no evidence of the superiority of any one of the recommended regimens over the
others. Therefore patients known to be allergic to one of the recommended regimens should be
In women with an intrauterine contraceptive device (IUD) in situ, consider removing the IUD
since a single randomised controlled trial suggests that this may be associated with better short
term improvement in symptoms and signs [9]. However a subsequent systematic review
concluded that there is little difference in outcomes for women with mild to moderate PID who
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Diagnosis
Testing for gonorrhoea, and chlamydia and M. genitalium in the lower genital tract is
recommended since a positive result supports the diagnosis of PID. However the absence of
infection from the endocervix or urethra does not exclude PID [1-4].
1-3
.
The absence of endocervical or vaginal pus cells has a good negative predictive value (95%)
for a diagnosis of PID but their presence is non-specific (poor positive predictive value – 17%)
[11].10.
An elevated ESR or C reactive protein supports the diagnosis [12] 11 but is non-specific and
Elevation of the white cell count (WBC) supports the diagnosis but can beis usually normal in
mild cases.
Laparoscopy may strongly support a diagnosis of PID but is not justified routinely on the basis
of associated morbidity, cost and the potential difficulty in identifying mild intra-tubal
Endometrial biopsy and ultrasound scanning may also be helpful when there is diagnostic
Management
Patients should be advised to avoid unprotected intercourse until they, and their partner(s),
have completed treatment and follow-upsymptoms have resolved (Evidence level IV, C)
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A detailed explanation of their condition with particular emphasis on the long-term implications
for the health of themselves and their partner(s) should be provided, reinforced with clear and
o fertility is usually well preserved in women with first episode PID who receive prompt
o the risk of impaired fertility increases significantly with each subsequent episode of PID
o chronic pelvic pain of varying severity affects around 30% of women following PID
o PID increases the relative risk of a subsequent pregnancy being an ectopic, but the absolute
http://www.iusti.org/regions/europe/PatientInformation.htmhttp://www.iusti.org/regions/europ
e/euroguidelines.htm#Current.
Therapy
anaerobic infection [1, 3][1, 3]1, 2. It is also desirable to include microbiological cover for
staphylococci, E. coli, H. influenzae) [15]13. Recent data suggest that few antibiotics
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robust evidence on local antimicrobial sensitivity patterns
cost
severity of disease
Rest is advised for those with severe disease (Evidence level IV, C)
If there is a possibility that the patient could be pregnant, a pregnancy test should be performed
Intravenous therapy is recommended for patients with more severe clinical disease (Evidence
level IV, C)
Admission for parenteral therapy, observation, further investigation and/or possible surgical
intervention should be considered in the following situations [3] 2 (Evidence level IV, C):
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diagnostic uncertainty
pregnancy
In inpatients the treatment response can be monitored by changes in C reactive protein and WBC .
In severe cases and cases with failure of the initial treatment tuboovarian abcessabscess should be
All patients should be offered screening testing for sexually transmitted infections
level IV, C) .
It is likely that delaying treatment increases the risk of long term sequelae such as ectopic
pregnancy, infertility and pelvic pain [16] 15. Because of this, and the lack of definitive diagnostic
criteria, a low threshold for empiric treatment of PID is recommended (Evidence level IV, C).
In cases with suspected repeat PID, especially if it is of mild severity, other causes should be
sought and treated accordingly, especially functional pain, pain originating in the ileopsoas muscles,
the pelvic floor and urinary tract (Evidence level IV, C).
Recommended Regimens
Mild and moderate cases should be treated as outpatients with oral therapy [17]16
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(Evidence level Ib, A).
Intravenous therapy, when given, should be continued until 24 hours after clinical
The optimal duration of treatment is not known but most clinical trials report a response to
The following antibiotic regimens are evidence based. It should be noted, however, that the
changing spectrum of antimicrobial resistance over time and in different geographical areas may
overestimate the efficacy of some regimens which were evaluated several years ago.
Outpatient Regimens
i.m. ceftriaxone 500mg single dose. or [i.m. cefoxitin 2g single dose with oral probenecid 1g]
followed by
oral doxycycline 100mg twice daily plus metronidazole 400mg twice daily for 14 days [18-21]2, 17,
18;16, 19
oral ofloxacin* 400mg twice daily plus oral metronidazole 500mg twice daily for 14 days2
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oral moxifloxacin* 400mg once daily for 14 days [24-26]
* High levels of quinolone resistance in N. gonorrhoeae occur in many areas of Europe. Therefore
in women who are at high risk of gonococcal PID (e.g. when the patient’s partner has gonorrhoea,
in clinically severe disease, following sexual contact abroad) ofloxacin, levofloxacin and
Inpatient Regimens
i.v. cefoxitin 2g four times daily (or i.v. cefotetan 2g twice daily or i.v./i.m. ceftriaxone 1g once
daily ) plus i.v. doxycycline 100mg twice daily (oral doxycycline may be used if tolerated)
followed by
oral doxycycline 100mg twice daily plus oral metronidazole 400mg twice daily to complete 14
i.v. clindamycin 900mg three times daily plus i.m./i.v. gentamicin (3-62mg/kg loading dose
followed by 1.5mg/kg three times daily [as a single daily dose with renal monitoring may be
substituted])
followed by either
[oral clindamycin 450mg four times daily [oral doxycycline 100mg twice daily
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Alternative Regimens
The evidence for alternative regimens is either less robust than the regimens above, or they have a
i.v. ofloxacin 400mg twice daily plus i.v. metronidazole 500mg three times daily for 14 days
i.v. ciprofloxacin 200mg twice daily plus i.v. (or oral) doxycycline 100mg twice daily plus i.v.
i.m. ceftriaxone 500mg single dose plus oral azithromycin 1g single dose followed by a second
Where the above regimens are not available antibiotic therapy should be given for 14 days and
attempt to cover:
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Metronidazole is included in the recommended outpatientsome regimens to improve coverage for
anaerobic bacteria which may have a role in the pathogenesis of PID [3, 28]27. Anaerobes are
probably of relatively greater importance in patients with severe PID and some studies have shown
good outcomes without the use of metronidazole. Metronidazole may therefore be discontinued in
those patients with mild or moderate PID who are unable to tolerate it.
Ceftriaxone may be used when cefoxitin or cefotetan are not available since it offers a similar
spectrum of activity, although with less effective cover for anaerobic infection.
Quinolones, including ofloxacin and moxifloxacin, should be combined with a single dose of
ceftriaxone 500mg i.m. in patients who are at high risk of gonococcal PID because of increasing
reports of quinolone resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae. The risk of gonorrhoea is high (e.g.
avoid when the patient’s partner has gonorrhoea [or is from a high prevalence area] or the patient
has clinically severe disease). Moxifloxacin has a strong evidence base for effectiveness in the
treatment of PID but has been associated with severe, although rare, liver and cardiac toxicity.
In women who are positive for M. genitalium treatment with moxifloxacin is recommended.
Partner notification
Current male partners of women with PID should be contacted and offered health advice and
screening for gonorrhoea and chlamydia (and M. genitalium if the index patient is infected).
Other recent sexual partners may also be offered screening - tracing of contacts within a 6
month period of onset of symptoms is recommended but this time period is not evidence based
and may be influenced by the sexual history, available resources or local practice.
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Partners should be advised to avoid unprotected intercourse until they and their partner have
Gonorrhoea, chlamydia and M. genitalium diagnosed in the male partner should be treated
appropriately (see European Guidelines at www.iusti.org) and concurrently with the index
patient.
Because many cases of PID are not associated with gonorrhoea, chlamydia or M. genitalium,
broad spectrum empirical therapy should also be offered to male partners e.g. doxycycline
100mg twice daily for 1 weekConcurrent empirical treatment for chlamydia is recommended
(see European Guidelines at www.iusti.org) for all sexual contacts due to the variable sensitivity
If adequate screening for gonorrhoea and chlamydia in the sexual partner(s) is not possible,
empirical therapy for gonorrhoea and chlamydia should be given (see European Guidelines at
www.iusti.org).
Follow Up
Review at 72 hours is recommended [3]2, particularly for those with a moderate or severe clinical
presentation, and should show a substantial improvement in clinical symptoms and signs. Failure to
do soimprove suggests the need for further investigation, parenteral therapy and/or surgical
intervention.
Repeat microbiology testing is appropriate in women who are positive for Repeat testing for
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in those with persistent symptoms
genitalium only)
infection.
Prevention/health promotion
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Appendix 1
Search strategy
This guideline refers to ascending infections in the female genital tract unrelated to delivery and
Five Four reference sources were used to provide a comprehensive basis for the guideline:
The search strategy comprised the following terms in the title or abstract: ‘pelvic inflammatory
‘primary immune deficiency’), ‘adnexal disease’ or ‘adnexal disease’. 10422 citations were
identified.
b.1963 - 1986
The search strategy comprised the following terms in the title or abstract: ‘pelvic inflammatory
disease’, ‘adnexitis’, ‘oophoritis’, ‘parametritis’, ‘salpingitis’ or ‘adnexal disease’. The dataset was
then limited to AIM journals and human subjects, identifying 2321 citations.
3. 2009 RCOG Green Top Guidelines – Management of Acute Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
(www.rcog.org.uk)
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Appendix 2
Levels of Evidence
Ia Evidence obtained from meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.
Ib Evidence obtained from at least one randomised controlled trial.
IIa Evidence obtained from at least one well designed study without randomisation.
IIb Evidence obtained from at least one other type of well designed quasi-experimental study.
III Evidence obtained from well designed non-experimental descriptive studies such as
comparative studies, correlation studies, and case control studies.
IV Evidence obtained from expert committee reports or opinions and/or clinical experience of
respected authorities.
Grading of Recommendations
A (Evidence levels Ia, Ib) - Requires at least one randomised control trial as part of the body of
literature of overall good quality and consistency addressing the specific recommendation.
B (Evidence levels IIa, IIb, III) - Requires availability of well conducted clinical studies but no
randomised clinical trials on the topic of recommendation.
C (Evidence IV) - Requires evidence from expert committee reports or opinions and/or clinical
experience of respected authorities. Indicates absence of directly applicable studies of good quality.
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Appendix 3
Declarations of Interest
Jonathan Ross – no interests to declareJR has received speaker fees from Becton Dickinson
Secondo GuaschinoPhilippe Judlin - has received speaker fees from Pierre Fabre
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Appendix 4
This guideline has been produced on behalf of the following organisations: the European Branch of
the International Union against Sexually Transmitted Infections (IUSTI Europe); the European
Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV); the European Dermatology Forum (EDF);
the Union of European Medical Specialists (UEMS). The European Centre for Disease Prevention
and Control (ECDC) and the European Office of the World Health Organisation (WHO-Europe)
also contributed to its development.
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