Bibliographic information
GuidelineAbortion care guideline, 2nd ed
Year of Publication2024
Issuing InstitutionWorld Health Organization
Recommendation
Maintained
For surgical abortion, regardless of the individual’s risk of pelvic inflammatory infection: Recommend appropriate prophylactic antibiotics pre- or perioperatively.
Recommended in favor
Strong
Certainty of evidence
Moderate
Notes and Remarks
Remark
- Lack of antibiotics should not limit access to abortion services.
Implementation consideration
- Single-dose administration of nitroimidazoles, tetracyclines or penicillins has been shown to be effective when used as prophylactic antibiotics for surgical abortion.
KEY HUMAN RIGHTS CONSIDERATIONS RELEVANT TO ANTIBIOTIC PROPHYLAXIS
- States must ensure adequate access to essential medicines in an affordable and non-discriminatory manner. For further information and sources, please refer to Box 1.2 and Web annex A: Key international human rights standards on abortion.
Also Featured In
This recommendation also appears in the following guidelines:
Originally Developed
Guideline
Safe abortion: technical and policy guidance for health systems
Year2012
InstitutionWorld Health Organization
Guideline
Abortion care guideline
Year2022
InstitutionWHO