To Compare the Strategies of Universal Antibiotic Prophylaxis Versus Screen-and-treat in Reducing Infective Complications and Re-infection in Women Who Undergo Termination of Pregnancy

The University of Hong Kong (HKU)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Sexually Transmitted Infections; Induced Abortion; Postaboral Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

Treatments: Drug: Universal antibiotic prophylaxis; Other: Screen-and-treat

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01842100

QMHRC99 - 15 RC/B/121

Details and patient eligibility

About

Screen-and-treat approach reduces postabortal pelvic inflammatory disease after induced abortion, and at the same time alters women's sexual behavior and prevents further re-infection by sexually transmitted infections when compared to the universal antibiotic prophylaxis strategy.

Full description

While universal antibiotic prophylaxis during induced abortion has been proven to reduce postabortal pelvic inflammatory diseases, screen-and-treat approach has the potential benefit of altering women's sexual behavior and preventing further re-infection by sexually transmitted infections. We conducted a randomized controlled trial to compare the effect of the two approaches in preventing postabortal pelvic inflammatory disease and the women's sexual behavior.

Enrollment: 2,193 patients

Sex: Female

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• women requesting for induced abortion in the gynecology clinic

Exclusion criteria

• nil

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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2,193 participants in 2 patient groups

Universal antibiotic prophylaxis

Active Comparator group

Description:

In the universal prophylaxis group, all women received doxycycline 100 mg twice daily for 7 days starting on the day of induced abortion. Screening for sexually transmitted diseases was done as baseline but the results were not revealed to the patients.

Treatment:

Drug: Universal antibiotic prophylaxis

Screen-and-treat

Active Comparator group

Description:

In the screen-and-treat group, the results of screening for sexually transmitted infections (STI) were revealed to the patients. They would only receive appropriate specific antibiotics treatment only if they were screened positive for any of the STIs. If they were found to have STI, their sexual partners would also be referred to the local social hygiene clinics for contact tracing and treatment. Contraception by barrier methods would also be advised.

Treatment:

Other: Screen-and-treat