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.