National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention
Division of Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Program and Training Branch
Patient Management/Treatment
General PID Considerations
Regimens should provide coverage of N. gonorrhoeae, C. trachomatis, anaerobes, Gram-negative facultative bacteria, and streptococci. If BV is present, anaerobic coverage must be included.
Treatment should be instituted as early as possible to prevent long-term sequelae.
Criteria for hospitalization of women with PID include:
Inability to exclude surgical emergencies (e.g., appendicitis, ectopic pregnancy)
Pregnancy
Severe illness
Nausea and vomiting
High fever
Non-response to oral therapy. This is defined as failure to respond clinically to outpatient antimicrobial therapy within 48-72 hours, or the inability to tolerate an outpatient oral regimen.
Tubo-ovarian abscess and current immunodeficiency (HIV infection with low CD4 count, immunosuppressive therapy) may also be indications for hospitalization.
