Audit of the management of pelvic inflammatory disease in general practice

There has been a change in the causative organisms of pelvic inflammatory disease over recent years - Chlamydia trachomatis is now the commonest infecting organism. Pelvic inflammatory disease is often managed in general practice and it is important that each episode is treated adequately in order to prevent recurrent infection, with its short term morbidity and long term risk of infertility and ectopic pregnancy.

In an attempt to document the current management of pelvic inflammatory disease in general practice, a questionnaire was sent to all 143 general practitioners in the Torbay area health authority. The response rate was 78.3%. Investigation methods and treatment regimens varied, with almost half (46.4%) of the respondents taking endocervical specimens but only 25.0% providing antibiotic therapy against C. trachomatis. Only 39.3% of the doctors considered investigation or referral of the male partner.

It is concluded that general practitioners are willing to participate in clinical audits of this kind and that the management of pelvic inflammatory disease in general practice is often incomplete.