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Prophylactic antibiotics for suction curettage in incomplete abortion
K D Ramin1, S M Ramin, P G Hemsell
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Parkland Memorial Hospital 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75235-9032, USA.
Objective:
The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of 200 mg of prophylactic doxycycline in preventing pelvic infection after curettage for spontaneous (incomplete) abortion.
Methods:
A randomized, prospective, double-blinded study was carried out involving 300 women with an incomplete abortion who were given either placebo or 200 mg of doxycycline orally 30-60 min prior to curettage. A hematocrit, WBC count, pregnancy test, syphilis serology, Neisseria gonorrhoeae culture, and Micro Trak (monoclonal antibody test, Syba, San Jose, CA) for Chlamydia trachomatis were performed. The patients were scheduled for follow-up 2 weeks later. Antibiotic administration for any reason as well as the postoperative infection rate in these women was assessed.
Results:
Eleven women were excluded from analysis, leaving 289 evaluable. N. gonorrhoeae was isolated from 6 (2%) women and C. trachomatis from 8 (3%) women, and the syphilis serology was serofast in 4 (1%) women. Endometritis complicated the procedure in 4 women who received placebo and in 1 woman who received doxycycline (P = 0.22).
Conclusion:
Prophylactic doxycycline is not effective in preventing pelvic infection after curettage for spontaneous (incomplete) abortion.
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