Efficacy of oral antibiotics following parenteral antibiotics for serious infections in obstetrics and gynecology

Patients with serious soft-tissue infections in obstetrics and gynecology are frequently treated with parenteral antibiotics until afebrile and clinically well for 48-72 hours, and then discharged on a broad-spectrum oral antibiotic. To evaluate the efficacy of this type of management, we designed a prospective, randomized single-blinded study comparing a group of patients who received oral antibiotics after hospital discharge (N = 80) with a group who did not (N = 83). No significant differences in age, race, parity, diagnosis, or pathogen isolated were observed between the patients in the two groups. No significant difference was noted in delayed morbidity between those who did and those who did not take oral antibiotics (P greater than .06). In light of the cost of oral antibiotics and the chance of drug-induced side effects, the data suggest that oral antibiotics after parenteral antibiotics are not indicated.