Pelvic inflammatory disease: etiologic studies with emphasis on chlamydial infection

Chlamydia trachomatis is one of the main etiologic agents in pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in Oslo. Up to two thirds of the 65 PID cases studied were associated with a chlamydial infection. The incidence of cervical gonorrhea was low (7.7%). Anaerobic bacteria were not isolated from the fallopian tubes or peritoneal fluid of any of the patients. Chlamydia-associated PID is characterized by a protracted course and vague symptoms. The laparoscopic findings indicate more severe inflammatory changes of the tubes than in patients in whom these agents were not found. The highest incidence of chlamydia-associated PID occurred in younger subjects, among whom the intrauterine contraceptive device was more frequently used. Perihepatitis was diagnosed in PID patients with and without chlamydial infection of the genital tract.