Second trimester septic abortion and the Dalkon shield

Intrauterine device infection causing concomitant streptococcal toxic shock syndrome and pelvic abscess with Actinomyces odontolyticus bacteraemia

Intrauterine devices (IUDs) are rarely associated with serious infections. We report an unusual concomitant infection of group A Streptococcus (GAS) causing toxic shock syndrome and pelvic abscess with Actinomyces odontolyticus associated with an IUD in a healthy 50-year-old patient. The IUD was subsequently removed and the patient recovered on the appropriate antibiotics. This case highlights the importance of clinicians' high index of suspicion of an IUD infection and prompt removal of the infected foreign body to obtain source control.

A controlled intrauterine contraceptive device trial

Three intrauterine contraceptive devices (IUCD) the Lippes Loop, the Dalkon Shield and the Inhiband, were prospectively compared after their random allocation to patients. Over a 12-month period after insertion, the Dalkon Shield was shown to be significantly superior to the Inhiband. Significant differences were not demonstrated between Shield and Loop or Loop and Inhiband in the duuration of this trial. It is submitted that the methodology detailed could, and probably should be used for future IUCD assessments.