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Rates of Serious Infection after Changes in Regimens for Medical Abortion

Author(s): Fjerstad, M.; Trussell, James; Sivin, I.; Lichtenberg, E.S.; Cullins, V.

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dc.contributor.authorFjerstad, M.-
dc.contributor.authorTrussell, James-
dc.contributor.authorSivin, I.-
dc.contributor.authorLichtenberg, E.S.-
dc.contributor.authorCullins, V.-
dc.date.accessioned2019-11-26T15:53:33Z-
dc.date.available2019-11-26T15:53:33Z-
dc.date.issued2009en_US
dc.identifier.citationFjerstad, M, Trussell, J, Sivin, I, Lichtenberg, ES, Cullins, V. (2009). Rates of Serious Infection after Changes in Regimens for Medical Abortion. New England Journal of Medicine, 361 (145 - 151. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa0809146en_US
dc.identifier.issn0028-4793-
dc.identifier.urihttp://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/pr17160-
dc.description.abstractBackground: From 2001 through March 2006, Planned Parenthood health centers throughout the United States provided medical abortion (abortion by means of medication) principally by a regimen of oral mifepristone followed 24 to 48 hours later by vaginal misoprostol. In response to concern about serious infections, in early 2006 Planned Parenthood changed the route of misoprostol administration from vaginal to buccal and required either routine provision of antibiotics or universal screening and treatment for chlamydia; in July 2007, Planned Parenthood began requiring routine treatment with antibiotics for all medical abortions. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis assessing the rates of serious infection after medical abortion during a time when misoprostol was administered vaginally (through March 2006), as compared with rates after a change to buccal administration of misoprostol and after initiation of additional infection-reduction measures. Results: Rates of serious infection dropped significantly after the joint change to buccal misoprostol from vaginal misoprostol and to either testing for sexually transmitted infection or routine provision of antibiotics as part of the medical abortion regimen. The rate declined 73%, from 0.93 per 1000 abortions to 0.25 per 1000 (absolute reduction, 0.67 per 1000; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.44 to 0.94; P<0.001). The subsequent change to routine provision of antibiotics led to a further significant reduction in the rate of serious infection -- a 76% decline, from 0.25 per 1000 abortions to 0.06 per 1000 (absolute reduction, 0.19 per 1000; 95% CI, 0.02 to 0.34; P=0.03). Conclusions: The rate of serious infection after medical abortion declined by 93% after a change from vaginal to buccal administration of misoprostol combined with routine administration of antibiotics. N Engl J Med 2009;361:145-51.en_US
dc.format.extent145 - 151en_US
dc.language.isoen_USen_US
dc.relation.ispartofNew England Journal of Medicineen_US
dc.rightsFinal published version. Article is made available in OAR by the publisher's permission or policy.en_US
dc.titleRates of Serious Infection after Changes in Regimens for Medical Abortionen_US
dc.typeJournal Articleen_US
dc.identifier.doidoi:10.1056/NEJMoa0809146-
pu.type.symplectichttp://www.symplectic.co.uk/publications/atom-terms/1.0/journal-articleen_US

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