Study: ED providers may be missing cases of PID among adolescents.

A new study suggests that ED providers may be missing cases of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in adolescents, a condition that, when left untreated, can lead to infertility, chronic pelvic pain, ectopic pregnancy, and pelvic abscesses. In an effort to improve diagnosis of PID, the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta broadened its criteria for diagnosis in 2002, but data show that diagnosis of PID in adolescents has remained stagnant. Experts say part of the problem is that providers are often reluctant to query young people about their sexual histories, a crucial element when diagnosing PID. While providers may be missing some cases, the study notes that 70% of adolescents with PID are diagnosed in the ED. Hospital and ED administrators should consider using IT tools to track the diagnosis and treatment of PID among adolescents, and to drive quality improvement.