What test would the nurse anticipate ordering to identify the source of a pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) infection?

• A. X-ray of the pelvis
• B. Vaginal smear for syphilis, gonorrhea, or chlamydia
• C. MRI of the abdomen
• D. CBC with differential

Answer: (B)

PID is usually caused by sexually transmitted organisms that ascend from the cervix to the upper genital tract. To identify the source, you test for the pathogens most often responsible—gonorrhea and chlamydia—by obtaining a vaginal or endocervical specimen and using nucleic acid amplification testing. This approach directly reveals the infectious agent driving the PID, guiding targeted antibiotic therapy and public health actions like partner notification. Imaging studies such as pelvic X-ray or MRI can show complications but don’t identify the causative organism, and a CBC with differential indicates infection level but not the source.