Prophylaxis Effect of Metronidazole Vaginal Gel in Decreasing the Risk of Surgical Site Infections after Elective Hysterectomy.

Objective: Infections are an important cause of morbidity and mortality after hysterectomy. Here, we aimed to investigate and evaluate the beneficial effects of metronidazole vaginal gel on the rate of surgical site infections in women undergoing elective abdominal hysterectomy. Methods: This is a randomized prospective, double-blind controlled clinical trial performed in 2020 in Isfahan on 108 candidates for elective hysterectomy. At the beginning of the study, we completed a checklist of the patient's characteristics (patient age, body mass index [BMI], and history of medical conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, anemia, and immune deficiency) and the cause of hysterectomy. All patients were randomized into two groups. The first group received a lubricant vaginal gel single dosage, and the second group received a 0.75% metronidazole vaginal gel single dosage the night before surgery. Patients were visited up to 6 weeks after surgery, and the frequency of infection at the surgical site was determined. Findings: The rates of infection were lower in patients who received metronidazole vaginal gel (5.8%) compared to the control group (11.6%) ( Conclusion: Administration of a single dosage of metronidazole vaginal gel before abdominal hysterectomy may reduce surgical site infection and have clinical values.