pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
Start with the big picture
PID can involve organisms including Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, anaerobes, Gardnerella vaginalis, and enteric Gram-negative rods. Lower abdominal or pelvic pain with cervical motion, uterine, or adnexal tenderness forms the basis of minimum diagnostic criteria; fever, discharge, and dyspareunia may also occur. Management depends on clinical severity and the ability to use outpatient therapy, with hospitalization considered in situations such as pregnancy, severe illness, suspected abscess, or failure of outpatient treatment. The lesson also addresses reassessment, partner treatment, counseling, and screening. Prompt recognition and appropriate management matter because PID may lead to serious reproductive sequelae.
What you'll learn
- Describe PID pathogenesis and its common infectious causes.
- Identify risk factors and characteristic clinical findings associated with PID.
- Apply minimum clinical criteria used to support a PID diagnosis.
- Distinguish circumstances that may warrant hospitalization from outpatient management.
- Summarize follow-up, partner management, and prevention considerations.
Continue your study
Work through the complete notes and reinforce the topic with the study tools available in the full lesson.
