Investigation of the prophylactic effect of tinidazole on the postoperative infection rate of patients undergoing vacuum aspiration.

In a double-blind randomized trial the effect of a single oral tinidazole dose of 2 g, given pre-operatively, on the infection rate was assessed in 210 patients undergoing first trimester abortion by vacuum aspiration (VA) and compared to placebo medication. Anaerobic and facultative anaerobic bacteria were the predominant organisms isolated from the cervix. Six patients in the tinidazole group and 11 from the control group developed a postoperative pelvic infection necessitating antibiotic therapy. In 2 patients, one in each group, hospitalization was necessary. This study indicated that identification of the bacteria present in the cervix before VA does not make it possible to predict the likelihood of the postoperative pelvic infection. Tinidazole administration preoperatively seems to reduce the postoperative pelvic infection rate after VA.