Is pelvic inflammatory disease an indication for treatment with ciprofloxacin?

This pilot study was carried out on 23 gynaecological patients suffering from salpingitis, salpingitis and pelviperitonitis, Douglas' abscess, and vaginal stump abscess. 21 courses were evaluable for clinical efficacy. The diagnoses had been established mainly by pelviscopy and by clinical gynaecological examinations. The dosage was 2 X 500 mg ciprofloxacin orally every 12 h for 7.6 (5-11) days. Cervical smears collected before therapy revealed the most common pathogens to be Escherichia coli and staphylococci, followed by Proteus mirabilis and streptococci. Clinically ciprofloxacin produced a complete cure in 16 patients (76%), and a clear improvement in four patients (19%). One patient left hospital before completing the therapy. Laboratory tests did not reveal any pathological findings, and ophthalmological examinations (fundoscopy, visus, colour perception) on 16 patients, before and after treatment, likewise did not show any changes. In one patient, therapy had to be discontinued after three days because of pruritic exanthema and vertigo. A second patient complained of strong pain behind the eyes and headache. In both patients these symptoms disappeared completely on discontinuation of treatment. The study showed clinical efficacy of orally administered ciprofloxacin in pelvic inflammatory disease.