Cephalothin prophylaxis for midtrimester abortion.
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.
D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D000328:Adult; D002512:Cephalothin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004716:Endometritis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011292:Premedication
D002512:Cephalothin