Pelvic Inflammatory Treatment

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease: Not Just a Sexually Transmitted Disease
When sexually transmitted disease or STD is heard, individuals automatically assume or think the disease is only contracted through sexual contact. There are a few exceptions to this thought process, one of which is pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Statistically, more than 750,000 women in the United States experiences an acute PID episode each year (Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) - CDC Fact Sheet, 2011) and 8% of all United States women will have been diagnosed with PID at least once in their lifetime (Haggerty & Ness, 2008). PID is labeled as a STD and many individuals have never heard of it or do not know exactly what it is. The following will illustrate pelvic inflammatory
Pelvic inflammatory disease is usually treated with at least two antibiotics that work on a broad range of bacteria because of the difficulty in identifying the bacteria that is the cause and it is possible for multiple types of bacteria to be the current cause. A broad spectrum antibiotic with at least a two week regimen is a typical course of treatment. Antibiotics are administered by mouth, intravenous, and injection and usually are very effective as treatment for PID. Individuals may be hospitalized if they are pregnant, unable to take pills or tablets, are not improving after having started antibiotic treatment at home, an abscess has developed, or if diagnosis of PID is questionable. A surgical operation may need to be conducted if an abscess has occurred and antibiotic treatment has not aided in the abscess resolution. Once treatment has been completed the individual must follow-up with their health care provider, in ordered to ensure the treatment was successful. Sexual contact can resume once all partners have been tested and treatment has been completed. The use of condoms can aid in preventing another PID episode, through its STD prevention
Pelvic inflammatory disease is considered a sexually transmitted disease because of the bacteria that cause it, but it is also important to remember PID can also be caused by bacteria that are a part of the body’s natural vaginal flora. The rule of thumb is early and appropriate treatment of PID can aid in preventing any lifelong complications. The treatments and causes of PID are currently not completely certain but studies are underway in order to increase knowledge that will in turn aid in prevention of PID’s many complications. The exact goal is to gain microbe-specific and optimized PID treatment, which should preserve fertility and prevent recurrent and persistent infection, ectopic emergency and chronic pain, and improve the long-term prognosis of women diagnosed with PID. (Haggerty & Ness, 2008) After becoming informed about what PID is, its causes, its symptoms, treatments, and complications, it should be slightly easier to aid in preventing either the disease itself or the disease’s complications.
References
Haggerty, C. L., & Ness, R. B. (2008). Diagnosis and Treatment of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease. Medscape Nurses, 1-12.
Hale, M. (1990). Pelvic Inflammatory Disease: Another Reason Not to Smoke. American Journal of Nursing.
Monif, MD, G. R. (2001). Pelvic Inflammatory Disease Redefined. Medscape Nurses, 1-2.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. (n.d.). Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID). Retrieved from Sandyford: http://www.sandyford.org/do-you-want-informatin-on-sexually-transmitted-infections-/pelvic-inflammatory/disease-(pid).aspx