Work

The importance of understanding pelvic inflammatory disease as a polymicrobial infection

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: In their recent exemplary study, Alexiou and colleagues found that symptomatic- but not asymptomatic-Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) infections were associated with pelvic inflammatory disease and tubal infertility.1 The authors suggested that differences in Ct virulence or host response may explain this. We would like to suggest that the polymicrobial nature of pelvic inflammatory disease is an alternative explanation.2 Whilst Ct and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (Ng) are clearly causally associated with pelvic inflammatory disease, detailed microbiological analyses have found them present in the fallopian tubes of a minority of patients with pelvic inflammatory disease.

Source: The Lancet Regional Health - Europe

DOI: 10.1016/j.lanepe.2024.101115

Author: Kenyon Chris

Institution: Instituut voor Tropische Geneeskunde

Language: English

Topic: Reproductive tract infections research

Subfield: Microbiology

Field: Immunology and Microbiology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $4,000