Ciprofloxacin versus gentamicin/clindamycin for postpartum endometritis.

An open, randomized, comparative study of intravenous ciprofloxacin versus gentamicin and clindamycin was performed on women with postpartum endometritis. Ciprofloxacin alone successfully eradicated the infections in 35 of 49 patients (71%), while the combination of gentamicin/clindamycin cured 41 of 48 (85%) (P = .15). The microbiology and antibiotic sensitivity of the endometrial isolates confirmed the poor activity of ciprofloxacin against anaerobic bacteria and less-than-optimal activity against Streptococcus faecalis. Ciprofloxacin, when used alone, may not be suitable for the treatment of postpartum endometritis.

Susceptibility of female pelvic pathogens to oral antibiotic agents in patients who develop postpartum endometritis.

Fifteen hundred patients were enrolled in a prospective, randomized study on the effect of antibiotic prophylaxis during cesarean section. Two hundred thirty-one patients developed postpartum endometritis, and the isolates obtained from the endometrium were tested for sensitivity to ampicillin, cefuroxime, ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, and clindamycin. Minimum inhibitory concentrations of 50% and 90% of ampicillin, cefuroxime, and clindamycin were similar to previously reported values; however, slight differences were noted in the activity of the two quinolones to common pelvic isolates. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of 90% of ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin to 119 isolates of Enterococcus faecalis were 4.0 and 2.0, to 17 isolates of Staphylococcus aureus 1.0 and 0.5, to 39 isolates of Escherichia coli 0.5 and 1.0, to 46 isolates of Bacteroides bivius 4.0 and 8.0, to 57 isolates of Gardnerella vaginalis 1.0 and 2.0, to 71 isolates of Staphylococcus epidermidis 0.5 and 0.5, to 16 isolates of Proteus mirabilis 0.25 and 0.12, and to 50 isolates of Lactobacillus species 32.0 and 8.0 micrograms/ml, respectively. In summary, the quinolones have activity comparable with a variety of other oral agents versus female pelvic pathogens, with the quinolones ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin having better activity against most of the gram-negative isolates. Anaerobic activities were comparable with the beta-lactams, but inferior to clindamycin and metronidazole as expected.

Metronidazole, clindamycin, and quinolones.

This article covers well-known agents such as metronidazole that have decades of use for treatment of Trichomonas with newer applications in anaerobic diseases. Clindamycin, also used in treatment in anaerobic infections, is reassessed for its efficacy in treating vaginal infections and possibly with Chlamydia. Quinolones, a new group of agents with their applications in female genital tract and urinary tract infections is reviewed. Specific consideration is given to toxicity of these agents for the practicing obstetrician.