It is a common practice to use prophylactic antibiotics to avoid genital tract infections associated with procedures used to treat incomplete abortions. However, the findings and reports are contradictory. Thus, the study aims to analyze systematically.
The researchers took reports and data from Cochrane Central for Register of Controlled Trials, Embase, and PubMed. The data regarding randomized controlled studies involving GTI followed by surgeries for incomplete abortions were the prime subjects. Such studies compared the efficiency of antibiotic prophylaxis vs placebo in reducing the risk of GTI (genital tract infection).
24 studies were eligible for the analysis, and it contained 16,178 individuals. The pooled estimate showed that the GTI risk reduced significantly in individuals who took prophylactic antibiotics (relative risk = 0.72). However, there was no such significance in individuals from middle and low-income countries.
The study statistically proved by strong evidence (assessed by GRADE), the efficiency of prophylactic antibiotics in reducing GTI in individuals undergoing surgery for incomplete abortion. However, the results are inconclusive for individuals from middle and low-income countries. The study also recommended more research for middle and low-income country individuals.
Ref: https://obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1471-0528.16637
