The most common pathogens causing pelvic inflammatory disease are which organisms?

The most common pathogens causing pelvic inflammatory disease are which organisms?

• A. Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae
• B. Escherichia coli and Proteus
• C. Gardnerella vaginalis
• D. Candida albicans

Answer: (A)

Pelvic inflammatory disease is most often the result of an ascending infection from the cervix to the upper genital tract, meaning the organisms that start as sexually transmitted infections commonly rise to affect the uterus and fallopian tubes. The two pathogens most frequently responsible are Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Chlamydia is often asymptomatic or mild, which can allow it to progress to PID unnoticed, while gonorrhea tends to produce more overt symptoms and an acute course. Although PID can be polymicrobial and occasionally involve other bacteria such as anaerobes or Gram-negative rods, the leading culprits are chlamydia and gonorrhoeae. The other options—organisms typically associated with vaginal infections or urinary pathogens—are not the primary causes of PID.

Pelvic inflammatory disease is most often the result of an ascending infection from the cervix to the upper genital tract, meaning the organisms that start as sexually transmitted infections commonly rise to affect the uterus and fallopian tubes. The two pathogens most frequently responsible are Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Chlamydia is often asymptomatic or mild, which can allow it to progress to PID unnoticed, while gonorrhea tends to produce more overt symptoms and an acute course. Although PID can be polymicrobial and occasionally involve other bacteria such as anaerobes or Gram-negative rods, the leading culprits are chlamydia and gonorrhoeae. The other options—organisms typically associated with vaginal infections or urinary pathogens—are not the primary causes of PID.