Pelvic inflammatory disease: new diagnostic criteria and treatment

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is a common disease that affects women of reproductive age and presents an enormous public health and economic burden. It is responsible for much short and long-term morbidity that may necessitate interventions subsequent to the original infection. Mild PID seems to be much more common than severe or "classic" PID, and the importance of early recognition and treatment cannot be understated. Current treatment regimens seem to be effective in terms of immediate clinical efficacy. Research into less clinically severe or subclinical PID is beginning to uncover the true burden of disease among women. Insights into newer diagnostic techniques and subclinical PID and updated treatment regimens are presented.