Do routine antibiotics after loop diathermy excision reduce morbidity?

Objective: To evaluate whether routinely giving an antibiotic after loop diathermy excision of the cervical transformation zone reduced post-operative vaginal loss.

Design: Prospective, randomised, double-blind placebo controlled parallel study.

Participants: Five hundred women undergoing loop diathermy excision in a colposcopy clinic.

Intervention: Administration of either ofloxacin 400 mg (2x200 mg) once daily for 5 days or an identical placebo.

Main Outcome Measure: Vaginal loss, assessed using a pictorial chart.

Results: No significant difference in post-operative vaginal loss was found.

Conclusion: Routine antibiotic prophylaxis after loop diathermy excision is not justified.