Performing an antibiotic prophylaxis (ATBP) with a surgical abortion (SA) is recommended in numerous countries, including France where the CNGOF has issued guidelines. There is little data regarding the actual application of these guidelines in clinical practice. The aim of this study was to evaluate the practice of ATBP with SA and to assess the degree of compliance with the national guidelines.

This longitudinal, prospective, multicenter, non-interventional study was undertaken between December 2013 and July 2014 with the objective of assessing the modalities of prescription of ATBP under real-life conditions in the setting of SA, and to compare it with the national guidelines.

A total of 542 pregnant patients agreed to participate and were included by 36 French hospitals. Of these 36 active centers, 18 (50%) systematically prescribed an ATBP, while 10 (27.8%) prescribed an ATBP depending on the risks for the patient. Of these 542 patients, 263 (48.5%) received an ATBP prescription, 274 (50.6%) did not receive such a prescription. The prescribed ATBP was metronidazole (88/263 (33.5%)), azythromycin (76/263 (28.9%)), or doxycycline (44/263 (16.7%)). In total, 208/263 (79.1%) of the patients received an ATBP. Finally, three factors were identified as independent contributors that influence the prescription of an ATBP: the prescribed cervix preparation, the type of center, and the number of surgical abortions per year in the center over 500/year.

Only half of the patients who undergo an SA receive a prescription for ATBP. Of the prescribed antibiotics, 80% correspond with the recommended ones.