Objective: To evaluate whether routinely giving an antibiotic after loop diathermy excision of the cervical transformation zone reduced post-operative vaginal loss.
Design: Prospective, randomised, double-blind placebo controlled parallel study.
Participants: Five hundred women undergoing loop diathermy excision in a colposcopy clinic.
Intervention: Administration of either ofloxacin 400 mg (2x200 mg) once daily for 5 days or an identical placebo.
Main outcome measure: Vaginal loss, assessed using a pictorial chart.
Results: No significant difference in post-operative vaginal loss was found.
Conclusion: Routine antibiotic prophylaxis after loop diathermy excision is not justified.