Effectiveness of Cefoxitin on Preventing Endometritis after Uterine Curettage for Spontaneous Incomplete Abortion: A Randomized Controlled Trial Study
Vitaya Titapant MD*, Panida Cherdchoogieat MD*
Affiliation : * Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Background : There are only few studies concerning the usage of antibiotics in preventing endometritis after uterine curettage
for spontaneous first trimester incomplete abortion and no conclusion can be demonstrated.
Objective : To investigate the effectiveness of prophylactic cefoxitin in preventing endometritis after uterine curettage for
spontaneous first trimester incomplete abortion.
Material and Method: Eighty-four women with spontaneous first trimester incomplete abortion were randomly allocated
into two groups using a computer-generated random number list and the allocation concealment was maintained using a
sealed opaque envelope. The patients in the study group were given 1 g of cefoxitin while the patients in the control group
were given 0.1 ml of vitamin B complex intravenously 20 minutes prior to curettage. Uterine curettage was performed after
intravenous sedation and analgesic drugs were administered. The patients were evaluated on the first, third and seventh
day after uterine curettage.
Results : Seventy-nine cases had completed the study protocol. There were no statistically significant differences in
demographic data and details of uterine curettage between both groups. Two cases of endometritis were found in the control
group but none in the study group. However, the difference did not reach the statistical significance (p = 0.241).
Conclusion : Prophylactic cefoxitin is not effective in preventing endometritis after uterine curettage for spontaneous first
trimester incomplete abortion.
Keywords : Endometritis, Cefoxitin, Spontaneous incomplete abortion, Prophylaxis
