Obstetrics & Gynecology Track the topics, authors and articles important to you
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

Obstetrics & Gynecology 1996;87:142-149
© 1996 by The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Fiorino, A.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Fiorino, A.

Articles

Intrauterine contraceptive device-associated actinomycotic abscess and Actinomyces detection on cervical smear

AS Fiorino

OBJECTIVE: To summarize clinical features and treatments in reported cases of actinomycotic pelvic abscess occurring in women using intrauterine contraceptive devices (IUD), and to review detection of Actinomyces by cervical smear. DATA SOURCES: The English-language medical literature accessed through MEDLINE. METHODS OF STUDY SELECTION: We identified 92 cases of actinomycotic abscesses associated with IUD use in 63 case reports. In addition, 31 studies of Actinomyces detection were found, 16 of which were studies of Papanicolaou smear-based detection. DATA ABSTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS: Data regarding clinical presentation and treatment were culled from case reports, whereas detection rates of Papanicolaou smear and other methods were obtained from studies of Actinomyces detection. The average patient was 37 years old, had been using an IUD for 8 years, and presented with abdominal pain, weight loss, vaginal discharge, and fever. Laboratory studies commonly revealed anemia, leukocytosis, and an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Most of these patients underwent operative procedures, usually hysterectomy and salpingoophorectomy. High-dose penicillin was found to be an effective antibiotic. Detection rates of organisms on Papanicolaou smear were somewhat variable; use of other detection methods, including endometrial biopsy, culture, and immunofluorescence, did not improve this variability. CONCLUSIONS: Pelvic actinomycosis associated with the use of IUDs can mimic pelvic malignancy; for that reason, it is often treated surgically. However, if the diagnosis of actinomycosis can be obtained preoperatively, antibiotic treatment may lead to complete resolution. The Papanicolaou smear may be useful in evaluating such patients.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 RadiologyHome page
R. J. Lely and H. W. van Es
Case 85: Pelvic Actinomycosis in Association with an Intrauterine Device
Radiology, August 1, 2005; 236(2): 492 - 494.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Obstet GynecolHome page
J. F. Peipert
Actinomyces: Normal Flora or Pathogen?
Obstet. Gynecol., November 1, 2004; 104(5): 1132 - 1133.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Obstet GynecolHome page
M. R. Milam, S. J. Schultenover, M. Crispens, and L. Parker
Retroperitoneal Fibrosis Secondary to Actinomycosis With No Intrauterine Device
Obstet. Gynecol., November 1, 2004; 104(5): 1134 - 1136.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Postgrad. Med. J.Home page
Abdominal pain in an intrauterine contraceptive device user
Postgrad. Med. J., September 1, 2001; 77(911): 606c - 606.
[Full Text]

Home page
 Arch Intern MedHome page
S. M. Arend, H. Oosterhof, and J. T. van Dissel
Actinomyces and the Intrauterine Device
Arch Intern Med, June 8, 1998; 158(11): 1270 - 1270.
[Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 1996 by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.