A comparison of piperacillin and clindamycin plus gentamicin in women with pelvic infections

Abstract

The efficacy and safety of piperacillin were compared with those of clindamycin plus gentamicin in 74 women with obstetric or gynecologic infections (such as endometritis, salpingitis and septic abortion). Thirty-five of the patients in the group treated with piperacillin and 33 of the patients in the group treated with clindamycin plus gentamicin were clinically cured. Clinical failure occurred in two patients in the group treated with piperacillin (salpingitis in one and endometritis in the other patient) and relapse of salpingitis occurred in one. Three patients who were given clindamycin plus gentamicin (all with salpingitis) did not respond to therapy. The most frequently isolated organisms were Neisseria gonorrhea and Bacteroides species. Adverse clinical experiences and the results of laboratory tests were fewer in the group treated with piperacillin than in the patients who received the combination regimen; in neither instance was treatment discontinued because of these effects. Thus, piperacillin was as safe and effective as a combination of clindamycin plus gentamicin.