METRONIDAZOLE PROPHYLAXIS IN ELECTIVE 1ST TRIMESTER ABORTION

Abstract

In a double-blind controlled trial, the efficacy of prophylactic metronidazole in elective 1st trimester abortions was assessed. Of 119 randomized women, 100 followed the protocol. Fifty-one women received 400 mg metronidazole 1 h before and again 4 and 8 h after abortion; 49 women received a placebo. In the placebo group 20.4% contracted postabortal genital infection compared with 3.9% in the metronidazole group (P < 0.025). Of 25 women with a positive history of pelvic inflammatory disease, 6 contracted postabortal infection, which was a significantly increased frequency compared with women without previous episodes of pelvic inflammatory disease (P < 0.05). The administration of prophylaxis, however, did not significantly influence the frequency. The number of hospital days was not significantly lower in the prophylaxis group (P > 0.05). The total amount of metronidazole prescribed in the study group was significantly larger than in the placebo group (P < 0.05), whereas the amount of ampicillin/pivampicillin prescribed in the placebo group was significantly larger (P < 0.05). The difference between the penicillin doses given in the treatment and placebo groups was not significant (P > 0.1).