Effectiveness of Antibiotic Prophylaxis During Surgical Evacuation of the Uterus for Miscarriage Management in Low Income Countries (AIMS Trial)

Infection following miscarriage surgery is a problem affecting over 33 million pregnancies each year. A majority of these women undergo surgery to empty the womb. Post-surgical infection is a significant problem in low income countries. The infections can result in death, serious illness or long-term health problems. Currently medical guidelines do not recommend antibiotics to be given routinely in miscarriage surgery, because there is no evidence to show its effectiveness. The AIMS project proposes that antibiotics given just before miscarriage surgery could reduce the chances of infection, and tests the hypothesis through a large clinical trial conducted in Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda and Pakistan.