Medically sound, cost-effective treatment for pelvic inflammatory disease and tuboovarian abscess

Comparison of risk prediction models for the progression of pelvic inflammatory disease patients to sepsis: Cox regression model and machine learning model

Introduction

The present study presents the development and validation of a clinical prediction model using random survival forest (RSF) and stepwise Cox regression, aiming to predict the probability of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) progressing to sepsis.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was conducted, gathering clinical data of patients diagnosed with PID between 2008 and 2019 from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC)-IV database. Patients who met the Sepsis 3.0 diagnostic criteria were selected, with sepsis as the outcome. Univariate Cox regression and stepwise Cox regression were used to screen variables for constructing a nomogram. Moreover, an RSF model was created using machine learning algorithms. To verify the model's performance, a calibration curve, decision curve analysis (DCA), and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were utilized. Furthermore, the capabilities of the two models for estimating the incidence of sepsis in PID patients within 3 and 7 days were compared.

Results

A total of 1064 PID patients were included, of whom 54 had progressed to sepsis. The established nomogram highlighted dialysis, reduced platelet (PLT) counts, history of pneumonia, medication of glucocorticoids, and increased leukocyte counts as significant predictive factors. The areas under the curve (AUCs) of the nomogram for prediction of PID progression to sepsis at 3-day and 7-day (3-/7-day) in the training set and the validation set were 0.886/0.863 and 0.824/0.726, respectively, and the C-index of the model was 0.8905. The RSF displayed excellent performance, with AUCs of 0.939/0.919 and 0.712/0.571 for 3-/7-day risk prediction in the training set and validation set, respectively.

Conclusion

The nomogram accurately predicted the incidence of sepsis in PID patients, and relevant risk factors were identified. While the RSF model outperformed the Cox regression models in predicting sepsis incidence, its performance exhibited some instability. On the other hand, the Cox regression-based nomogram displayed stable performance and improved interpretability, thereby supporting clinical decision-making in PID treatment.

Bilateral or unilateral tubo-ovarian abscess: exploring its clinical significance

OBJECTIVES

To assess the characteristics of patients with unilateral and bilateral tubo-ovarian abscess (TOA).

METHODS

Women diagnosed with TOA during 2003-2017 were included in this retrospective cohort study. TOA was diagnosed using sonography or computerized tomography and clinical criteria, or by surgical diagnosis. Demographics, sonographic data, clinical treatment, surgical treatment, and post-operative information were retrieved.

RESULTS

The study cohort included 144 women who met the inclusion criteria, of whom 78 (54.2%) had unilateral TOA and 66 (45.8%) had bilateral TOA. Baseline characteristics were not different between the groups. There was a statistical trend that women with fewer events of previous PID were less likely to have with bilateral TOA (75.3% vs. 64.1%, respectively; p = 0.074). Women diagnosed with bilateral TOA were more likely to undergo surgical treratment for bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy compared to unilateral TOA (61.5% vs. 42.3%, respectively; p = 0.04). There was no difference in maximum TOA size between groups.

CONCLUSIONS

This study detected a trend toward increased need for surgical treatment in women diagnosed with bilateral TOA. These findings may contribute to determining the optimal medical or surgical treatment, potentially leading to a decrease in the duration of hospitalization, antibiotic exposure, and resistance. However, it is important to acknowledge that the results of the current study are limited, and further research is warranted to validate these potential outcomes.

Endometriosis is a risk factor for recurrent pelvic inflammatory disease after tubo-ovarian abscess surgery

PURPOSE

To evaluate the clinical outcomes and prognosis of patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery for tubo-ovarian abscess (TOA) and identify risk factors for pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) recurrence.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis including 98 women who underwent laparoscopic surgery for TOA at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Bern University Hospital from January 2011 to May 2021. The primary outcome studied was the recurrence of PID after TOA surgery. Clinical, laboratory, imaging, and surgical outcomes were examined as possible risk factors for PID recurrence.

RESULTS

Out of the 98 patients included in the study, 21 (21.4%) presented at least one PID recurrence after surgery. In the univariate regression analysis, the presence of endometriosis, ovarian endometrioma, and the isolation of E. coli in the microbiology cultures correlated with PID recurrence. However, only endometriosis was identified as an independent risk factor in the multivariate analysis (OR (95% CI): 9.62 (1.931, 47.924), p < 0.01). With regard to the time of recurrence after surgery, two distinct recurrence clusters were observed. All patients with early recurrence (≤ 45 days after TOA surgery) were cured after 1 or 2 additional interventions, whereas 40% of the patients with late recurrence (> 45 days after TOA surgery) required 3 or more additional interventions until cured.

CONCLUSION

Endometriosis is a significant risk factor for PID recurrence after TOA surgery. Optimized therapeutic strategies such as closer postsurgical follow-up as well as longer antibiotic and hormonal therapy should be assessed in further studies in this specific patient population.

The Combination of Clindamycin and Gentamicin Is Adequate for Pelvic Inflammatory Disease: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) affects 4.4% of women aged 18-44 in the United States, and may cause infertility if it is ineffectively treated. A combination of clindamycin and gentamicin is generally used for the treatment of PID. The benefit of adding metronidazole into the treatment combination still remains unclear, and this study was designed to evaluate its effectiveness. We retrospectively included 107 women who were diagnosed with PID from May 2013 to September 2020 in a single hospital. Based on their used antibiotic regimens, the patients were divided into three groups-those who were treated with clindamycin + gentamicin (group 1, n = 46), those who took regular antibiotics plus metronidazole (group 2, n = 27), and others (group 3, n = 34). Primary outcomes included the rates of taking surgery after failed antibiotics, occurrence/rupture of tubo-ovarian abscesses, and readmission within the following 6 months of first treatment. Secondary outcomes to assess were the length of stay (LOS) and expenditure for PID. There were no significant differences in the surgical rates, readmission rates, LOS and expenditure noted between the three groups. Subgroup analysis showed that visual analogue pain scores being 5 or more would increase the LOS by 3.83 days (p < 0.001), and body temperature > 38.3 °C or more would increase the treatment total expenditure (p < 0.001). Our study results suggest that the combination of clindamycin + gentamicin is a convincible treatment protocol for PID.

Minimally invasive approach to the management of tubo-ovarian abscesses

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The purpose of this publication is to review the most up-to-date literature regarding the pathogenesis, diagnosis and management of tubo-ovarian abscesses.

RECENT FINDINGS

Prior to the advent of broad-spectrum antibiotics, tubo-ovarian abscesses necessitated total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. Although it carries a risk of treatment failure, antibiotic therapy enabled fertility-sparing treatment for many women. Recent studies have identified key predictors for antibiotic treatment failure, including age, BMI and abscess diameter. C-reactive protein was also found to be a strong predictor of antibiotic treatment response. Given the growing evidence of treatment failure with antibiotic therapy alone, along with increased availability and access to interventional radiology, image-guided drainage with or without catheter placement, combined with broad-spectrum antibiotics, is now considered first-line therapy.

SUMMARY

Tubo-ovarian abscess is a diagnostic challenge, as presentation can vary. Inadequate treatment is associated with severe morbidity and mortality. Despite adequate conservative treatment, recurrence risk is high and clinical sequelae can have devastating effects on reproductive health. Recent evidence-based developments, including a risk score system to predict antibiotic failure, serve to provide appropriately directed risk-based care. However, large-scale randomized controlled trials are needed to clarify the most appropriate treatment modalities.

The prediction of surgical intervention in patients with tubo-ovarian abscess

The aim of this study was to compare the clinical characteristics of patients with tubo-ovarian abscess (TOA) who responded to medical treatment and those who underwent surgical intervention due to medical treatment failure. Electronic medical records were evaluated retrospectively to identify patients who were diagnosed with TOA. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data including white blood cell (WBC) count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and C-reactive protein (CRP) were compared between the medical treatment group and the surgical intervention group. Patient age, TOA diameter, WBC count, CRP, and ESR were significantly different between the groups. On multiple regression analysis, significant correlations were identified between age (p = .001), ESR (p = .045), and failure of medical treatment. TOA diameter (p = .065) showed a borderline association with surgical intervention. The risk of needing surgical intervention in TOA patients can be predicted using ESR in addition to age and TOA size as risk factors.IMPACT STATEMENTWhat is already known on this subject? For patients diagnosed with a tubo-ovarian abscess (TOA), the size of TOA and the patient's age are helpful for early identification of patients who are likely to need surgical treatment. Inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein and white blood cell are also associated with the risk of surgical intervention.What do the results of this study add? Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) in addition to the size of TOA and the patient's age is a useful marker in determining whether to undergo surgery in patients with TOA.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? ESR combined with the patient's age and the size of TOA is clinically useful in predicting the need for early surgical intervention in patients with TOA. Large prospective controlled studies are required to establish relationship between inflammatory markers and the risk of surgical intervention.

Can antibiotic treatment failure in tubo-ovarian abscess be predictable?

INTRODUCTION

We aimed to identify factors that would predict the success of antibiotic treatment and the need for surgical treatment in tubo-ovarian abscess (TOA) patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The data of 146 patients with a diagnosis of TOA were analyzed retrospectively. Patients were separated into two groups; successfully treated with antibiotics and going under surgery after antibiotic treatment failure. Demographic, clinical and laboratory data of patients were examined between both groups that could determine the success of treatment.

RESULTS

In the surgical treatment group, age, body mass index (BMI), and C-reactive protein (CRP) values ​​were higher than the antibiotic treatment group (p = 0.017, p = 0.026, and p < 0.001 respectively). Patients who underwent surgery had a significantly larger abscess than those who received antibiotic therapy (79.4 ± 21.1 mm vs. 50.9 ± 13.2 mm, p < 0.001). Cut-off values of the findings, which were identified as risk factors in predicting the failure of antibiotic treatment, were found with ROC analyses. This cut-off was 41.5 years for age (sensitivity 71.3 %, specificity 60 %), 26.72 kg/m² for BMI (sensitivity 51.5 %, specificity 71.1 %), and 143.5 mg/L for CRP value on admission (sensitivity 68.3 %, specificity 71.1 %). The cut-off for abscess diameter was 62.5 mm (sensitivity 88.1 %, specificity 82.2 %).

CONCLUSION

Especially in large tubo-ovarian abscesses, early surgical intervention should be preferred considering the age, BMI, and CRP values.

Tubo-ovarian abscess: Exploring optimal treatment options based on current evidence

Purpose:

Tubo-ovarian abscess (TOA) and pelvic abscess are characterized by an inflammatory pelvic mass. In the majority of cases, this condition involves the ovaries, the fallopian tubes and/or any other adjacent tissue. TOA is considered a severe complication of PID and can cause severe sepsis. The main risk factors for women’s health are the size of the abscess, the initial amount of white blood cells (WBC), patients’ age as well as, any co-existing comorbidities.

Methods:

This study provides a review of the current literature regarding the management of TOA and the different criteria used in order to establish the optimal therapeutic approach or to predict outcome by individualizing cases. Four major search engines, MEDLINE, Google Scholar, PubMed and EMBASE, up to February 2020 were explored, focusing in epidemiology and risk factors, pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment.

Results:

Our review suggests that there are no clear guidelines for best practice, in case of TOA, but it appears that intravenous antibiotics combined with interventional radiology have good results for TOA <5 cm. When TOA is >5 cm, laparoscopic approach is indicated. Further studies are needed in order to evaluate the best treatment for women with TOA.

Conclusions:

More prospective studies on large-series of patients are in need, in order to determine a clear pathway and to suggest specific criteria, which can guide clinicians to choose optimal approach in a timely manner.

Sexually Transmitted Infections Part 2: Discharge Syndromes and Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) disproportionately affect young people, with more than half of the infections occurring in youth aged 15 to 25 years. (1)(2) This review, the second in a 2-part series on STIs, focuses on infections that may cause abnormal vaginal or penile discharge, including trichomonas, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Most infected persons, however, are asymptomatic. Nucleic acid amplification tests are the most sensitive and specific for the detection of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis, and they can be performed on provider- or patient-collected swabs. Providers should have a low threshold for diagnosing and treating PID because untreated PID can have serious long-term complications for young women. Indications for hospitalization for PID include the presence of a tubo-ovarian abscess, severe illness with systemic symptoms, pregnancy, human immunodeficiency virus infection, and failure to respond to outpatient oral treatment (within 48-72 hours) or inability to tolerate the oral treatment.

Perioperative Complications of Laparoscopic versus Open Surgery for Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To compare complications in patients undergoing laparoscopic vs open surgery for acute pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).

DESIGN

We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent surgery for PID, using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database from 2010 to 2015. Propensity score matching was used to balance baseline characteristics and compare complications in patients who underwent laparoscopic vs open surgery.

SETTING

Surgical management of acute PID.

PATIENTS

Patients with a preoperative diagnosis of PID were identified using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, codes. We excluded patients with chronic PID, gynecologic malignancy, and those for whom the surgical route was unknown.

INTERVENTIONS

Surgery for acute PID.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

The study included 367 patients. The mean age was 43.0 ± 11.1 years, body mass index was 30.9 ± 11.2 kg/m², and American Society of Anesthesiology class was 2 (interquartile range 2-3). Preoperative signs of sepsis were noted in 33.8% of the patients, and septic shock was present in 1.4%. Hysterectomy was performed in 67.6%, oophorectomy in 12.0%, and salpingectomy in 4.6%. Complications were experienced by 114 patients (31.1%), 11 (3.0%) of which were potentially life-threatening. Multivariate logistic regression identified the following to be independently associated with complications: laparoscopy (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.48; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.3-0.8; p <.01), operative time (aOR 1.01; 95% CI, 1.00-1.01; p <.01), appendectomy (aOR 2.36; 95% CI, 1.0-5.4; p = .04), elevated international normalized ratio (aOR 2.30; 95% CI, 1.3-4.2; p <.01), and low hematocrit level (aOR 2.53; 95% CI, 1.4-4.5; p <.01). Propensity scores were calculated and used to generate a matched cohort of patients who underwent laparoscopic vs open surgery; the groups were similar, with p <.05 for all covariates. After balancing confounding variables, a laparoscopic approach to surgery remained significantly associated with a lower risk of complications (coefficient -0.07; 95% CI, -0.11 to -0.02; p = .008).

CONCLUSION

Laparoscopy was associated with lower complication rates than open surgery in this well-matched cohort of patients who underwent surgery for acute PID.

Therapeutic Impact of Initial Treatment for Chlamydia trachomatis Among Patients With Pelvic Inflammatory Disease: A Retrospective Cohort Study Using a National Inpatient Database in Japan

BACKGROUND

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is common among women of reproductive age and can be complicated by tuboovarian abscess (TOA), which is a serious and potentially life-threatening disease. However, recent mortality rates from PID on hospital admission and the short-term therapeutic usefulness of initial treatment for Chlamydia trachomatis remain unknown.

METHODS

Using the Diagnosis Procedure Combination database, we identified patients who were diagnosed with PID on admission from July 2010 to March 2016 in Japan. We excluded patients who were pregnant, had cancer, or had missing data. Propensity score-adjusted analyses were performed to compare short-term outcomes between patients administered initial treatment for C. trachomatis and those without this treatment. The primary outcome was surgical intervention (laparotomy, laparoscopic surgery, and/or drainage procedure) during hospitalization.

RESULTS

In total, 27841 eligible patients were identified. Of these patients, 2463 (8.8%) had TOA on admission. Mortality during hospitalization was 0.56% and 0.28% in the groups without and with TOA, respectively. Propensity score matching created 6149 pairs. A significant difference was observed in the primary outcome between those receiving initial treatment for C. trachomatis and the control group after propensity score matching (11.5% vs 13.4%; risk difference, -1.9%; 95% confidence interval, -3.1 to -0.7). The group that received initial treatment for C. trachomatis also had a significantly lower mortality rate.

CONCLUSIONS

In this retrospective nationwide study, initial treatment for C. trachomatis among hospitalized patients diagnosed with PID had clinical benefits in terms of improved short-term outcomes.

Role of Interventional Procedures in Obstetrics and Gynecology

Radiological guided intervention techniques are discussed in obstetric and gynecologic patients. Fallopian tube recanalization, postpartum hemorrhage control, techniques of treating uterine leiomyomas, pelvic congestion treatment, and the use of percutaneous and transvaginal ultrasonography-guided aspirations and biopsy are covered. These techniques use basic radiological interventional skills and show how they are adapted for use in the female pelvis.

Risk factors for recurrent Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

OBJECTIVE

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is a common infection which can result in severe long term morbidity, such as chronic pelvic pain and infertility. The morbidity increases in correlation to the number of PID events. Our study aim to assess the risk factors for recurrence of pelvic inflammatory disease.

METHODS

A retrospective case control study was conducted using data for all women who were admitted to a tertiary medical center for a recurrent PID over a duration of 15 years. Women who had a recurrent PID were compared to women admitted for PID treatment without further recurrence. Forward stepwise multivariate logistic regression analysis was subsequently carried out.

RESULTS

The study included 133 women of whom 33 had recurrent PID. Women in the recurrent PID group had a higher rate of previous pelvic surgery (12 (36 %) vs. 20 (20 %), adjusted odds ratio [OR] 2.2 (95 % confidence interval CI 1.06-5.4, p = 0.05) and more had intrauterine devices (IUD) still in place if they had been previously present (5 (71.4 %) vs. 9(25.7 %), OR 7.2, (95 % CI 1.18-43.9), p = 0.02). The majority were treated with a combination of Ampicillin and Gentamycin, fewer received Augmentin or a cephalosporin base regimen (28 (84.8 %) vs 56 (56.0 %), OR 4.4, (95 % CI 1.5-12.3, p = 0.02), (1 (3.0 %) vs 27 (27.0 %), OR 0.08, (95 % CI 0.01-0.64), (4 (12.2 %) vs 17 (17.0 %)) respectively. In addition, invasive treatment had been required in more patients who later had a recurrent PID (6 (18.1 %) vs. 4(4.0 %), OR 5.3 (95 % CI 1.1.4-20.2), p = 0.007). Antibiotic regimens and invasive treatment were independently associated with recurrent PID (OR 2.69; 95 % CI 1.13-6.41, OR 2.10; 95 % CI 1.19-3.71, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Among women with PID, special awareness should be given to women with previous pelvic surgery, who required an additional interventional treatment and have an IUD inserted. Efforts should be made to achieve treatment success and optimal prevention to prevent recurrent PID.

Clinical value of early laparoscopic therapy in the management of tubo-ovarian or pelvic abscess

Broad-spectrum antibiotics are the conservative treatment for tubo-ovarian abscess (TOA) or pelvic abscess, but the failure rate of antibiotic therapy remains higher in patients with a larger abscess. The present study aimed to evaluate the clinical value of early laparoscopic therapy in the management of TOA or pelvic abscess. A total of 100 patients were enrolled and their medical records were retrospectively analyzed after excluding 6 patients with malignant diseases. Based on the treatment they had received, the patients were divided into a conservative treatment group (n=41) and an early laparoscopic treatment group (n=53). In the conservative treatment group, 21 patients (51.2%) finally received laparoscopic exploration (late laparoscopic treatment group), and 20 patients (48.8%) achieved a success of antibiotic therapy (successful antibiotic therapy group). The cut-off value of abscess size for predicting antibiotic treatment failure was determined using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to explore the association between the clinical variables and antibiotic therapy failure in conservative treatment group. The durations of elevated temperature >38.0°C and hospitalization were significantly longer in the conservative treatment group than those in the early laparoscopic treatment group (all P<0.001). The patients in the late laparoscopic treatment group had a larger abscess size than those in the successful antibiotic therapy group (6.2±1.8 cm vs. 4.8±1.4 cm, P=0.008). An abscess diameter of 5.5 cm was obtained as the cut-off of antibiotic failure, and the sensitivity and specificity were 81.0 and 85.0%, respectively. An abscess diameter of ≥5.5 cm was independently associated with antibiotic failure (odds ratio=5.724; 95%CI: 2.025–16.182; P=0.001). In conclusion, early laparoscopic treatment was associated with a better clinical prognosis than conservative treatment and late laparoscopic therapy for TOA or pelvic abscess patients.

Tubo-Ovarian Abscesses: Epidemiology and Predictors for Failed Response to Medical Management in an Asian Population

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) complicated by tubo-ovarian abscesses (TOA) has long-term sequelae in women of reproductive age. Consensus on the optimal treatment of TOA remains lacking. Most clinicians utilize antibiotics as a first-line conservative approach, failing which invasive intervention is adopted. Our aim is to identify risk factors predicting failed response to conservative medical management for TOA in an Asian population. A retrospective cohort study of 136 patients admitted to a tertiary hospital in Singapore for TOA between July 2013 and December 2017 was performed. Patients were classified into 2 groups: successful medical treatment with intravenous antibiotics and failed medical treatment requiring invasive intervention. 111 (81.6%) of patients were successfully treated with conservative medical approach using intravenous antibiotics; 25 (18.4%) required invasive intervention having failed medical therapy. Multivariate logistic regression model adjusted for age, ethnicity, C-reactive Protein (CRP), TOA size, and body mass index (BMI) showed the odds ratio (OR) of each centimetre increase in TOA size to be 1.28 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03-1.61; P=0.030) and every kg/m2 increase in BMI to be 1.10 (95% CI 1.00-1.21; P=0.040). Failed medical management was predicted by a cutoff of TOA size ≥ 7.4 cm and ≥ BMI 24.9 kg/m2. Patients who failed medical treatment received a mean of 4.0±2.1 days of antibiotics before a decision for invasive intervention was made, with a significantly longer intravenous antibiotic duration (9.4±4.3 versus 3.6±2.2 days; P <0.001) and prolonged hospitalization (10.8± 3.6 versus 4.5 ± 2.0 days; P <0.001) compared to the medical group. Patients with higher BMI and larger TOA size were associated with failed response to conservative medical management in our study population. Early identification of these patients for failed medical therapy is imperative for timely invasive intervention to avoid prolonged hospitalization, antibiotic usage, and patient morbidity.

The predictive role of CA-125 in the management of tubo-ovarian abscess. A retrospective study

OBJECTIVE

Tubo-ovarian abscess (TOA) is a well-established sequel of acute pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). While as up to 25% of women will experience conservative treatment failure, the factors associated with treatment failure are not clearly-established, and the role of Cancer antigen 125 (CA-125) is under-studied. We aim to evaluate the role of CA-125 in the conservative management of TOA.

STUDY DESIGN

A retrospective cohort study conducted at tertiary university-affiliated hospital during 2007-2018. Ninety one patients were diagnosed with a TOA and underwent a trial of conservative management with intravenous antibiotics. Patients who eventually underwent surgical intervention were compared with patients managed conservatively.

RESULTS

Overall, 39/91 (42.8%) underwent an invasive intervention subsequent to failed antibiotic treatment. Patients who experienced conservative treatment failure had higher medians of inflammatory markers as CRP (15.7 vs. 10.8 mg/L, p = 0.02), WBC count (14.2 vs. 12.4 1,000/mm³, p = 0.04) and platelet count (374 vs. 295 10⁹/L, p = 0.04) at admission. Higher levels of CA-125 at admission were found in those who required an invasive intervention (57 vs. 30 U\ml, p = 0.02) as well. The largest diameter of TOA at admission was higher in those who required an invasive intervention as compared to those who were successfully treated conservatively (75 mm vs. 57 mm, p = 0.01). CA-125 level was found to be the only independent factor associated with conservative treatment failure (OR; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.27, 1.08-1.48, p = 0.03).

CONCLUSION

Elevated CA-125 serum levels were found to be associated with failure of conservative parenteral antibiotic therapy for TOA. This finding should be better evaluated in a prospective manner.

The effectiveness of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio in prediction of medical treatment failure for tubo-ovarian abscess

AIM

We aimed to compare the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in tubo-ovarian abscess (TOA) patients who responded to medical treatment or who underwent surgical intervention due to medical treatment failure.

METHODS

The files of the patients, hospitalized in our Obstetrics and Gynecology Department with TOA diagnosis between August 2015 and December 2017, were evaluated retrospectively. The conservative management group was comprised of 38 of the 81 patients (46.9%) who responded to sole medical treatment with the triple antibiotic regimen (gentamicin-clindamycin-ampicillin) and the surgical intervention group was comprised of 43 patients (53.1%) who did not respond to medical treatment and needed further surgery and/or interventional radiologic abscess drainage. Demographic and clinical data, imaging findings, and laboratory results including NLR were compared between two groups.

RESULTS

There were statistically significant differences between the groups in terms of age, TOA diameter, white blood cell and neutrophil counts, and NLR levels (P < 0.05). The mean NLR was 7.4 ± 5.8 for the conservative management group and 10.3 ± 5.8 for the surgical intervention group (P = 0.004). The area under the curve (AUC) for NLR was 0.69 (threshold value was ≥6.97, 95% confidence interval, sensitivity 79.1%, specificity 57.9%). On multiple regression analysis, a significant correlation was identified between age, NLR and resistance to the medical treatment.

CONCLUSION

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and age are significantly higher in patients with medical treatment failure and NLR could be used as a novel marker in addition to white blood cell in the prediction of medical treatment failure in TOA patients.

[Management of tubo-ovarian abscesses and complicated pelvic inflammatory disease: CNGOF and SPILF Pelvic Inflammatory Diseases Guidelines]

A tubo-ovarian abscess (ATO) should be suspected in a context of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in case of severe pain associated with the presence of general signs and palpation of an adnexal mass at pelvic examination. Imaging allows most often a rapid diagnosis, by ultrasound or CT, the latter being irradiant but also allowing to consider the differential diagnoses (digestive or urinary diseases) in case of pelvic pain. MRI, non-irradiating examination, whenever it is feasible, provides relevant information, more efficient, guiding quickly the diagnosis. The diagnosis of tubo-ovarian abscess should lead to the hospitalization of the patient, the collection of bacteriological samples, the initiation of a probabilistic antibiotherapy associated with drainage of the purulent collection. In severe septic forms (generalized peritonitis, septic shock), surgery (laparoscopy or laparotomy) keeps its place. In other situations, ultrasound-guided trans-vaginal puncture in the absence of major hemostasis disorders or severe sepsis is a less morbid alternative to surgery and provides high rates of cure. Today, ultrasound-guided trans-vaginal puncture has been satisfactory evaluated in the literature and is part of a logic of therapeutic de-escalation. Randomized trials evaluating laparoscopic drainage versus radiological drainage should be able to answer, in the coming years, questions that are still outstanding (impact on chronic pelvic pain, fertility). The recommendations for the management of ATO published in 2012 by the CNGOF remain valid, legitimizing the place of radiological drainage associated with antibiotic therapy.

Complicated Clinical Course and Poor Reproductive Outcomes of Women with Tubo-Ovarian Abscess after Fertility Treatments

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To assess the clinical course and surgical and fertility outcomes of patients diagnosed with tubo-ovarian abscess (TOA) after fertility treatment.

DESIGN

Parallel case series over 10 consecutive years (Canadian Task Force classification II-2).

SETTING

Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, a tertiary university-affiliated hospital.

PATIENTS

Thirty-seven women who were diagnosed with TOA after fertility treatments (in vitro fertilization and intrauterine insemination) were compared with 313 women who were diagnosed with TOA not associated with fertility treatments during the same time period.

INTERVENTION

Medical records search, chart review, and phone survey were used to assess clinical course and surgical and reproductive outcomes.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Women with TOA after fertility treatments had significantly higher inflammatory markers upon admission compared with the nonfertility treatment group (mean white blood cell count, 16.1 × 1000/mm³ [standard deviation [SD], ±4.3] vs 13.8 × 1000/mm³ [SD, ±6.3], p = .001, respectively; and mean C-reactive protein, 149 mg/L [SD, ±78.3] vs 78.2 mg/L [SD, ±68.5], p = .001, respectively). In addition, TOA after fertility treatments was associated with a significantly higher surgical intervention rate and a more complicated clinical course, as evidenced by a shorter time interval from admission to surgery (2.1 days vs 3.2 days, p = .01), higher rates of antibiotic failure, higher conversion rate from laparoscopy to laparotomy (14.2% vs 3.2%, p = .005), increased perioperative complications rate (25.0% vs 3.8%, p = .0001), and a longer hospitalization stay (7.2 days vs 4.8 days, p = .01). Clinical pregnancy rate per cycle in women with TOA after fertility treatments was 9%, and 1 case of live birth was recorded.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data indicate that TOA after fertility treatment has a substantial effect on the clinical course and surgical outcome. Prophylactic antibiotic treatment before ovum retrieval and deferral of embryo transfer should be considered in patients at risk of infection.

Clinical Characteristics Associated with Antibiotic Treatment Failure for Tuboovarian Abscesses

OBJECTIVE

Although parenteral antibiotic treatment is a standard approach for tuboovarian abscesses, a significant proportion of patients fail therapy and require interventional radiology (IR) guided drainage. The objective of this study is to assess if specific clinical factors are associated with antibiotic treatment failure.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective medical record review of patients hospitalized for tuboovarian abscesses from 2001 through 2012 was performed. Clinical characteristics were compared for patients who underwent successful parenteral antibiotic treatment, failed antibiotic treatment necessitating subsequent IR drainage, initial drainage with concurrent antibiotics, and surgery.

RESULTS

One hundred thirteen patients admitted for inpatient treatment were identified. Sixty-one (54%) patients were treated with antibiotics alone. Within this group, 24.6% failed antibiotic treatment and required drainage. Mean white blood cell count (K/μL) (18.7 ± 5.94 versus 13.9 ± 5.12) (p = 0.003), mean maximum diameter of tuboovarian abscess (cm) (6.8 ± 2.9 versus 5.2 ± 2.0) (p = 0.03), and length of stay (days) (9.47 ± 7.43 versus 4.59 ± 2.4) (p = 0.002) were significantly greater for patients who failed antibiotic treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Admission white blood cell count greater than 16 K/μL and abscess size greater than 5.18 cm are associated with antibiotic treatment failure. These factors may provide guidance for initial selection of IR guided drainage.

Tubo-Ovarian Abscess Caused by Candida Albicans in an Obese Patient

BACKGROUND

Tubo-ovarian abscess (TOA) arises in most cases from pelvic infection. Appropriate treatment includes use of antimicrobials and, especially in patients with increased BMI, drainage of the contents.

CASE

A 44-year-old morbidly obese woman (BMI 72) had a persistent TOA despite receiving antibiotic treatment for four months. She had no history of diabetes, and denied being sexually active. Imaging demonstrated a pelvic abscess of 14.9 × 8.9 × 11.1 cm. Successful percutaneous drainage was performed yielding purulent material which grew Candida albicans. The patient recovered after drainage of the abscess and the addition of fluconazole to her antimicrobials. She had no apparent risk factor for acquiring such an opportunistic infection, other than her morbid obesity.

CONCLUSION

Because morbid obesity may confer a relative immunodeficiency, morbidly obese patients may develop unusual infections such as opportunistic fungal abscesses.

Severe pelvic abscess formation following caesarean section

We report a case of a 24-year-old woman with severe pelvic abscess formation 2 weeks after secondary caesarean section. The isolated pathogens were a mixture of Gardnerella vaginalis, Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma urealyticum. After initial resistance to systemic antibiotic treatment, she underwent radiologically-guided drainage of the abscesses, whereon she had a continuous recovery.

Surgical, Ultrasound Guided Drainage, and Medical Management of Tuboovarian Abscesses

OBJECTIVE

To compare surgical, ultrasound guided drainage, and medical management of tuboovarian abscesses (TOA) and determine if different characteristics in patient presentation influence treatment and outcome.

METHODS

Retrospective cohort study of 158 patients admitted to Jackson Memorial Hospital between 2007 and 2012 with a TOA.

RESULTS

Patients treated with IV antibiotics (IV) alone were hospitalized for 5.59 days (SD 2.52), IV antibiotics and US guided drainage (IV/US) were hospitalized for 9.63 days (SD 7.58), and IV antibiotics and surgery (IV/surgery) were hospitalized for 8.14 days ((SD3.9), (P < 0.001)). A total of 52 patients were readmitted with TOA; 41.8% were treated with IV; 26.9% were readmitted with IV/US; 7.1% were readmitted with IV/surgery (P < 0.022). Patients with a TOA measuring 0-8 cm were hospitalized for 5.97 days (SD 4.24), while those greater than 8 cm were hospitalized for 7.71 days ((SD 4.69), (P < 0.029)). Patients treated with a triple antibiotic regimen were hospitalized for 8.42 days (SD 5.70) versus 5.8 days (SD 3.24) when receiving an alternative regimen (P < 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

Longer hospitalization in patients treated uniformly with either triple antibiotics, ultrasound guided drainage, or surgery represents a delay in optimal treatment. Tailoring treatment plans based on patient presentation may allow for shorter hospital stays and improved morbidity.

Experience of tubo-ovarian abscess in western Turkey

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the clinical and laboratory parameters, treatments, and complications of patient with tubo-ovarian abscess (TOA).

METHODS

Data for 296 patients diagnosed with TOA (clinically and sonographically) between January 2005 and December 2012 were retrospectively reviewed at 3 tertiary referral hospitals in Turkey. Patients were compared on the basis of TOA size, demographic characteristics, clinical and sonographic presentation, and laboratory findings.

RESULTS

Seventy-six patients (25.7%) underwent surgery because antibiotic treatment was unsuccessful. The mean abscess size was larger and the mean C-reactive protein (CRP) level and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were higher among patients who required surgery. The ESR had a diagnostic value of 83.6%, and a specificity and sensitivity of 73.7% and 82.7%, respectively, for the need for surgical intervention, based on a cut-off value of 63.0mm/hour. The CRP level had a diagnostic value of 80.4%, a specificity of 82.3%, and a sensitivity of 65.8% based on a cut-off value of 21.0mg/L.

CONCLUSION

The combined use of the sonographic TOA diameter and laboratory parameters (ESR and CRP level) can aid clinical treatment decisions and improve the prediction of the outcome of medical TOA treatment.

Postoperative infections in obstetrics and gynecology

Postoperative infection is the most commonly seen complication of surgery in obstetrics and gynecology. The use of antibiotic prophylaxis has greatly decreased though not completely eliminated this adverse outcome. Postoperative infections include wound cellulitis, wound abscess, endomyometritis, pelvic cellulitis, and pelvic abscess. Infections usually manifest as fever and greater than normal postoperative pain. Refractory fevers maybe because of septic pelvic vein thrombophlebitis or maybe noninfectious in origin. Broad-spectrum antibiotics should be initiated as soon as possible when diagnosis of postoperative infection is made; most patients will respond to treatment within 24 to 48 hours when appropriate antibiotics are selected.

Pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management of severe pelvic inflammatory disease and tuboovarian abscess

Severe pelvic inflammatory disease and tuboovarian abscesses (TOAs) are common pelvic infections requiring inpatient admission. There are few large randomized trials guiding appropriate clinical management of TOA, including antibiotic selection and timing of surgical management and drainage. The pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management of severe pelvic inflammatory disease and TOA are summarized and reviewed from the most current literature.

[Treatment of the tubo-ovarian abscesses]

The antibiotic treatment is indispensable for the treatment of the tubo-ovarian abscesses (TOA). It has to have a wide spectre and would be secondarily adapted in case of a sexually transmitted infection. The surgery remains indicated in first intention in case of vital threat (generalized peritonitis, toxic shock). In the not complicated TOA, the evacuation of abscesses (by draining under imaging or laparoscopy) with the antibiotic treatment gives better rates of cure than the antibiotic treatment alone. For the surgery, several entrys are possible. The laparoscopy allows a shorter hospitalization with fewer complications and a faster resolution of the fever than the laparotomy. The conservative surgery, realized by laparoscopy, has hight rates of successes with few complications. The radical surgery, by coelioscopy or by laparotomy, has high rates of complications. Transvaginal ultrasound guided aspiration is an alternative in the drainage by laparscopy with identical succes. It has been well evaluated. It has low morbidity and can be proposed in first intention in not complicated TOA.

Recommendations and rationale for the treatment of pelvic inflammatory disease

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is one of the most common serious infections of nonpregnant women of reproductive age. Management of PID is directed at containment of infection. Goals of therapy include the resolution of clinical symptoms and signs, the eradication of pathogens from the genital tract and the prevention of sequelae including infertility, ectopic pregnancy and chronic pelvic pain. The choice of an antibiotic regimen used to treat PID relies upon the appreciation of the polymicrobial etiology of this ascending infection including Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma genitalium and other lower genital tract endogenous anaerobic and facultative bacteria, many of which are associated with bacterial vaginosis. Currently available evidence and the CDC treatment recommendations support the use of broad-spectrum antibiotic regimens that adequately cover the above named microorganisms. The outpatient treatment of mild-to-moderate PID should include tolerated antibiotic regimens consisting of an extended-spectrum cephalosporin in conjunction with either azithromycin or doxycycline. Clinically severe PID should prompt hospitalization and imaging to rule out a tubo-ovarian abscess. Parenteral broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy with activity against a polymicrobial flora, particularly Gram-negative aerobes and anaerobes, should be implemented.

Image-guided drainage of tuboovarian abscesses of gastrointestinal or genitourinary origin: a retrospective analysis

PURPOSE

To analyze the authors' success with image-guided drainage of tuboovarian abscesses (TOAs).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Retrospective analysis of patients with image-guided TOA drainage from 1999 to 2008 was performed. Patient recovery without salpingo-oophorectomy was considered clinical success. A total of 57 TOAs were drained in 49 female patients (mean age, 43; range, 12 to > 89).

RESULTS

Thirty-three (58%) TOAs were drained percutaneously using computed tomography guidance and 24 were ultrasound guided (21 transvaginally, three transabdominally). Fifty-three TOAs were drained with catheter placement, and four were drained with aspiration alone. Abscess etiologies include pelvic inflammatory disease (n = 21, 37%), gastrointestinal conditions related (n = 21, 37%), gynecologic surgery (n = 8, 14%), and other (12%). Image-guided drainage resolved TOAs without salpingo-oophorectomy in 74% of cases overall (42 of 57) and 88% (29 of 33) of gynecologic-related cases, including 95% (20 of 21) of pelvic inflammatory disease cases. Salpingo-oophorectomy was performed more often in gastrointestinal-related cases (10 of 21, 48%) than for all other causes (five of 36, 14%; P < .001), with concurrent bowel surgery performed in the majority of the gastrointestinal-related cases. Mean follow-up after image-guided drainage was 48 months (range, 1-113) in patients who did not have related surgery. In patients who underwent salpingo-oophorectomy, it was performed on average 2.2 months (range, 0.5-5) after initial drainage. Two minor complications occurred; both involved catheter transgression of the urinary bladder in patients with transvaginal ultrasound-guided drainages. The patients were successfully treated conservatively with Foley catheter bladder decompression, without prolonged hospitalization.

CONCLUSIONS

TOAs, especially of gynecologic origin, can often be managed successfully with image-guided drainage. After image-guided drainage, patients with gynecologic-related TOA were less likely to undergo salpingo-oophorectomy than patients with gastrointestinal-related TOAs.

Pelvic inflammatory disease

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an infection-caused inflammatory continuum from the cervix to the peritoneal cavity. Most importantly, it is associated with fallopian tube inflammation, which can lead to infertility, ectopic pregnancy, and chronic pelvic pain. The microbial etiology is linked to sexually transmitted microorganisms, including Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrheae, Mycoplasma genitalium, and bacterial vaginosis-associated microorganisms, predominantly anaerobes. Pelvic pain and fever are commonly absent in women with confirmed PID. Clinicians should consider milder symptoms such as abnormal vaginal discharge, metrorrhagia, postcoital bleeding, and urinary frequency as potential symptoms associated with the disease, particularly in women at risk of sexually transmitted infection. The diagnosis of PID is based on the findings of lower genital tract inflammation associated with pelvic organ tenderness. The outpatient treatment of mild-to-moderate PID should include tolerated antibiotic regimens with activity against the commonly isolated microorganisms associated with PID and usually consists of an extended spectrum cephalosporin in conjunction with either doxycycline or azithromycin. Clinically severe PID should prompt hospitalization and imaging to rule out a tuboovarian abscess. Parenteral broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy with activity against a polymicrobial flora, particularly gram-negative aerobes and anaerobes, should be implemented. Screening for and treatment of Chlamydia infection can prevent PID.

Tuboovarian abscesses: is size associated with duration of hospitalization & complications?

Objective. To evaluate the association between abscess size and duration of hospitalization and need for surgical intervention. Methods. We collected data from patients admitted with ICD-9 codes 614.9 (PID) and 614.2 (TOA) from January 1, 1999-December 31, 2005. We abstracted data regarding demographics, diagnostic testing/laboratory testing, imaging, treatment, and clinical course. Two abscess groups were created: </=8 cm or >8 cm. Descriptive statistics were calculated, and duration of hospitalization and surgical intervention for women with large abscesses were compared to women with smaller collections. Results. Of the 373 charts reviewed, 135 had a TOA and 31% required management with drainage and/or surgery. The average abscess size for those treated successfully with conservative management was 6.3 cm versus those requiring drainage and/or surgery (7.7 cm, P = .02). Every 1 cm increase in abscess size as associated with an increase in hospitalization by 0.4 days (P = .001). Abscesses greater than 8 cm were associated with an increased risk of complications (P < .01). Conclusions. Larger tubo-ovarian abscesses are associated with an increased duration of hospitalization and more complications including an increased need for drainage or surgery. Additional research to determine the most efficacious antibiotic regimen management strategy is needed.