title: Prophylactic antibiotics for transcervical intrauterine procedures.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The transcervical intrauterine route is commonly used for operative gynaecological procedures in women. The vagina is an area of the body that is abundant with normal bacterial flora. An operative procedure through the vagina may, therefore, be considered to have added potential for post-procedure infection. Prophylactic antibiotics may play a role in the prevention of post-procedure transcervical intrauterine infections.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effectiveness and safety of antibiotic prophylaxis compared to placebo or no treatment in women undergoing transcervical intrauterine procedures.
  
  
  METHODS
  The search strategy was based on the Cochrane Menstrual Disorders and Subfertility Group (MDSG) search strategy. We searched the following databases: the Cochrane MDSG Specialised Register; Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) in The Cochrane Library (to August 2012); MEDLINE (1946 to August 2012); EMBASE (1980 to August 2012); PsycINFO (to August 2012); CINAHL (to August 2012), Biological Abstracts (1966 to August 2012) and AMED (1966 to August 2012).
  
  
  METHODS
  We planned to include only truly randomised controlled trials that compared antibiotic prophylaxis with placebo or no treatment in order to prevent infectious complications after transcervical intrauterine procedures. Controlled clinical trials without randomisation and pseudo-randomised trials were excluded.
  
  
  METHODS
  No data collection or analysis was done because no trials were eligible for inclusion in the review.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The search did not identify any randomised controlled trials investigating the effect of antibiotic prophylaxis compared to placebo or no treatment in women undergoing transcervical intrauterine procedures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  At this time, there are no randomised controlled trials that assess the effects of prophylactic antibiotics on infectious complications following transcervical intrauterine procedures. It is, therefore, not possible to draw any conclusions regarding the use of prophylactic antibiotics for the prevention of post-procedure transcervical intrauterine infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand. jadsada@kku.ac.th.
authors.forename: Jadsada
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thinkhamrop
authors.forename: Malinee
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Laopaiboon
authors.forename: Pisake
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lumbiganon
mesh_terms: D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000601:surgery; D004107:Dilatation and Curettage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D013509:Gynecologic Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans