The relationship of genital tract actinomycetes and the development of pelvic inflammatory disease

Abstract

As a corollary to a case-control study evaluating the risk of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) among users of an intrauterine countraceptive device (IUD), Papanicolaou smears were studied to detect the presence of actinomycetes. Forty-six PID case patients and 108 control patients were included in the corollary study. The presence of actinomycetes was noted only among current or past wearers of an IUD. Women with actinomycetes present on Papanicolaou smear had a 3.6-fold risk of hospitalization for PID, as compared to women without actinomycetes. This trend persisted when only IUD users were evaluated. Of patients with PID who had actinomycetes noted on the Papanicolaou smear, 87½% had a tuboovarian abscess, compared to 28.9% of patients without actinomycetes. In addition, patients with actinomycetes present had PID treated surgically more frequently.