A 20-year-old female university student is evaluated in the emergency department for severe, bilateral pelvic pain, vomiting, and subjective fever that began two days ago. She had a new sexual partner last month and uses oral contraceptives inconsistently. Vital signs show a temperature of 39.4°C (102.9°F), pulse of 118/min, and blood pressure of 108/68 mm Hg. Abdominal examination reveals right and left lower quadrant tenderness with voluntary guarding. Speculum examination shows profuse yellow cervical discharge. Bimanual examination elicits significant pain upon movement of the cervix and a tender, boggy mass in the right adnexal region.
Arrange the following steps in the most appropriate chronological sequence for the evaluation and management of this patient.
- 1Obtain a qualitative urine human chorionic gonadotropin test
- 2Perform a transvaginal ultrasound
- 3Admit to the hospital and initiate intravenous cefotetan and oral doxycycline
- 4Assess for defervescence and clinical improvement after 48 to 72 hours
- 5Discharge on oral doxycycline and metronidazole to complete a 14-day course