title: Incidence of bacteremia at dilation and curettage.
abstract: The American Heart Association does not recommend prophylactic antibiotics for patients undergoing dilation and curettage (D & C) except in the case of septic abortion or the presence of prosthetic valves. This recommendation is based on a retrospective analysis of case reports of infectious complications of D & C. To date we are unaware of prospective studies that answer this question. At a community hospital we studied 20 patients undergoing D & C for noninfectious indications. Aerobic and anaerobic blood cultures were performed before and during the D & C. All baseline cultures were negative. In one patient we were able to isolate Lactobacillus after the D & C, thus finding a 5% incidence of bacteremia. That places D & C in the same risk category as other diagnostic procedures considered low risk in the pathogenesis of subacute bacterial endocarditis. Our study thus validated the recommendations made by the American Heart Association.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, D.C.
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Sacks
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Tchabo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000572:American Heart Association; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D002985:Clinical Protocols / Q000592:standards; D004107:Dilatation and Curettage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006764:Hospitals, Community; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D011292:Premedication / Q000592:standards; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014768:Virginia / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents