Cephalothin prophylaxis for midtrimester abortion
Spence, M.R.; King, T.M.; Burkman, R.T.; Atienza, M.F.
Obstetrics and Gynecology 60(4): 502-505
1982
ISSN/ISBN: 0029-7844 PMID: 6750476 Document Number: 195848
A randomized prospective double-blind study was conducted to determine the efficacy of prophylactic antibiotics as compared with placebo in 198 women undergoing second-trimester intraamniotic injection abortions. Patients received either sodium cephalothin or placebo intravenously before the procedure and for up to 8 additional doses. In 11 patients postabortion endometritis developed; 2 had received the antibiotic and 9 had received a placebo (P less than .05). Prophylactic cephalothin decreased the incidence of endometritis in patients undergoing midtrimester injection abortion. An injection-abortion interval greater than 24 hours appears to identify patients at risk for the development of postabortion endometritis.