Azithromycin for the treatment of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)

ISRCTN ISRCTN51790058
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN51790058
EudraCT/CTIS number 2010-023254-36
Secondary identifying numbers 11656
Submission date
25/02/2014
Registration date
25/02/2014
Last edited
06/04/2021
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Urological and Genital Diseases
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English Summary

Background and study aims
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is caused by the spread of sexually transmitted infections from the vagina and cervix. If inadequately treated, PID can have serious consequences such as scarring of the fallopian tubes, which can lead to infertility, ectopic pregnancy and chronic pelvic pain. If taken correctly, a standard 14 days of antibiotic treatment has a cure rate of over 90%. However, because symptoms often improve within 7 days and antibiotics cause significant side effects, many women stop taking the medication early, thus the infection may not clear completely and may lead to further complications . The aim of this study is to simplify the standard antibiotic treatment for pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).

Who can participate?
Women who attend the genitourinary clinic with mild to moderate symptoms of PID (pain for less than 30 days)

What does the study involve?
Women are examined, have swabs taken to check for infection and are asked to fill in a questionnaire about pain and their beliefs around medicines. Women are then randomly allocated to either the standard of care (14 days of antibiotics) or the 5-day course of antibiotics. The women and research nurse know which antibiotics they are taking, but not the doctor. At follow-up in the clinic women are asked to complete a further questionnaire about pain, health beliefs, side effects and ability to take the tablets. The research nurse calls the women at 68 weeks for a final assessment, and where infection was found, invites women for repeat samples.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
If a difference is found between the two antibiotic regimens in women with PID it will change the local treatment policies and so may improve future treatments for patients. There are no risks from any of the antibiotics; they are all used commonly for other conditions. All antibiotics can sometimes cause nausea, vomiting and rash but participants may not experience any side effects at all.

Where is the study run from?
This is a multi-centre study running in Brighton, London, Birmingham, Eastbourne/Hastings and Sheffield (UK).

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
November 2012 to May 2015

Who is funding the study?
National Institute for Health Research (UK)

Who is the main contact?
Dr Gillian Dean, gillian.dean2@nhs.net

Contact information

Dr Gillian Dean
Scientific

Royal Sussex County Hospital
Eastern Road
Brighton
BN2 5BE
United Kingdom

Email gillian.dean2@nhs.net

Study information

Study designRandomised; Interventional; Design type: Treatment
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Hospital
Study typeTreatment
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use the contact details to request a patient information sheet
Scientific titleIs a short course of azithromycin effective in the treatment of mild to moderate pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)?
Study hypothesisThe aim of this study is to assess whether a shorter course of antibiotics taken over 5 days is as effective as the 14 day course and whether women find the shorter course more acceptable when compared to the current standard of treatment.
Ethics approval(s)NRES Committee South East Coast - Brighton and Sussex, 10/03/2011, ref.:10/H1107/70
ConditionTopic: Infection, Reproductive Health and Childb; Subtopic: Infection (all Subtopics), Reproductive Health and Childb (all Subtopics); Disease: Infectious diseases and microbiology , Reproductive Health & Childbirth
InterventionStandard of care (14 days of antibiotics) or the 5 day course of antibiotics.

Abdominal & Bimanual Exam, Modified McCormack Score used.
Baseline and Day 14-21; BMQ questionnaire
Baseline and Day 14-21; Informed Consent, Informed consent in writing before any protocol specific procedures
MARS Questionnaire, Day 14-21 visit
Side Effects Questionnaire, Day 14-21 visit
Telephone follow-up, 6-8 week follow-up visit
Urinalysis, Baseline for pregnancy test
Visual Analogue Scale for Pain, At Baseline and Day 14-21 visit

Follow-Up Length: 2 month(s)

Study Entry: Single Randomisation only
Intervention typeDrug
Pharmaceutical study type(s)
PhasePhase IV
Drug / device / biological / vaccine name(s)Azithromycin
Primary outcome measureClinical efficacy of treatment regimes; Timepoint(s): Comparing improvement of pain scores: baseline to Day 14-21
Secondary outcome measures1. Comparison of adherence; Timepoint(s): Day 14-21
2. Comparison of costs; Timepoint(s): 3 month notes review
3. Comparison of side effects; Timepoint(s): Day 14-21
4. Microbiological cure when organisms identified; Timepoint(s): Day 14-21 and 6-8 week follow-up
5. Mycoplasma anti-microbial resistance; Timepoint(s): Day 14-21 and 6-8 week follow-up
6. Prevalence of causative organisms in study population; Timepoint(s): Day 14-21
Overall study start date02/11/2012
Overall study end date01/05/2015

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
SexFemale
Target number of participantsPlanned Sample Size: 396; UK Sample Size: 396
Total final enrolment313
Participant inclusion criteriaPresence of all of:
1. Pelvic discomfort for < 30 days
2. Direct lower abdominal tenderness +/– rebound tenderness
3. Adnexal/cervical motion tenderness
4. Target Gender: Female; Upper Age Limit 60 years ; Lower Age Limit 16 years
Participant exclusion criteria1. Women who do not consent
2. Age < 16 years
3. Abdominal pain requiring hospital admission
4. Positive pregnancy test
5. Urinary tract infection
6. Temperature >38 °C (indicator of severe infection)
7. Antibiotics within the last 7 days
8. Known allergy or intolerance to antibiotic component
9. Ultrasound scan showing other pathology
10. History of epilepsy
11. Severe depression
Recruitment start date01/11/2011
Recruitment end date01/09/2015

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • England
  • United Kingdom

Study participating centre

Royal Sussex County Hospital
Brighton
BN2 5BE
United Kingdom

Sponsor information

Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust (UK)
Hospital/treatment centre

Mr Scott Harfield
Royal Sussex County Hospital
Eastern Road
Brighton
BN2 5BE
England
United Kingdom

Email scott.harfield@nhs.net

Funders

Funder type

Government

National Institute for Health Research (UK) - Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB); Grant Codes: PB-PG-0609-19279
Government organisation / National government
Alternative name(s)
National Institute for Health Research, NIHR Research, NIHRresearch, NIHR - National Institute for Health Research, NIHR (The National Institute for Health and Care Research), NIHR
Location
United Kingdom

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareYes
IPD sharing plan summaryOther
Publication and dissemination planPlanned publication in a high-impact peer reviewed journal.
IPD sharing planThe datasets generated and/or analysed during the current study during this study will be included in the subsequent results publication.

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Results article 13/11/2020 06/04/2021 Yes No
HRA research summary 28/06/2023 No No

Editorial Notes

06/04/2021: The following changes have been made:
1. The scientific contact's details have been updated and the plain English summary updated accordingly.
2. The sponsor email address has been updated.
3. Publication reference added.
4. The final enrolment number has been added from the reference.
5. The EudraCT number has been corrected.
06/08/2020: No publications found.
09/08/2017: Added recruitment dates, publication and dissemination plan, IPD sharing statement.