Types of interventions

In the review, we additionally stated the details of antibiotic regimen as "Antibiotic regimen includes the followings: administration route (for example intravenous, intramuscular, oral, vaginal); number of doses (for example, single versus multiple doses).

Types of outcome measures

In the review protocol, we stated that primary outcome was genital infections occurring within seven days of excision of the cervical transformation zone including (a) cervix: cervicitis 24 hours following the procedure as defined by one or more of the symptoms and signs; delayed bleeding; redness; pus or offensive discharge; positive gram stain; positive culture; (b) uterus or adnexa: pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) assessed by vaginal examination for all women 24 hours after the procedure, found to have clinical evidence of PID (cervical excitation, pelvic organ tenderness, or both); and (c) sepsis or other serious infection or infectious complications, either with or without fever, defined as body temperature higher than 38^o Celsius on at least two occasions more than four hours apart, 24 hours after the procedure. Secondary outcome was adverse effects of antibiotics including adverse drug reactions, which were defined as any medical complications related to drug metabolisms; allergy, liver failure, renal failure, etc. according to the CTCAE version 4 (CTCAE 2010) and drug interactions.

In attempts to cover a broad range of outcome measures for infectious complications following excision of the cervical transformation zone, we revised this section in this review as follows; Primary outcomes: (1) Infectious complications (defined as any documented sites of infection identified by cultivation or clinical symptoms and signs, or both), measured as the proportion of participants who developed each of the following within eight weeks of surgery: cervicitis, endometritis, pelvic inflammatory disease, prolonged vaginal discharge, severe vaginal bleeding, lower abdominal pain, fever, and additional antibiotic treatment; (2) Antibiotic resistance.

Secondary outcomes included (1) Adverse effects‐related to antibiotics: classified according to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE 2010) as follows: gastrointestinal disorders (nausea, vomiting, anorexia, diarrhoea); immune system disorders (allergic reaction, anaphylaxis) blood and lymphatic system disorders (leucopenia, anaemia, thrombocytopenia, neutropenia); skin (stomatitis, mucositis, alopecia, allergy); nervous system disorders; genitourinary; and other side effects not categorised above; (2) unscheduled medical consultant (for any reasons); and (3) additional self‐medication .

Searching other source

In the review, we added Index to theses (ProQuest Dissertations & Theses: UK & Ireland) and the WHO International Clinical Trial Registry (http://apps.who.int/trialsearch/Default.aspx) as additional databases to be searched. In addition, we added the lists of conferences used for searching abstracts and proceedings

Data synthesis

We additionally stated in the review that "we prepared a ’Summary of findings’ table to present the results of the meta‐analysis, based on the methods described in Chapter 11 of the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions (Schunemann 2011). We presented the results of the meta‐analysis for the primary outcome and adverse events as outlined in the 'Types of outcome measures’ section".

Assessment of reporting biases

As there was only three trials that met our inclusion criteria, we were unable to construct funnel plots to determine the possibility of publication bias as previously stated in the review protocol. In future update of this review, we will construct funnel plots corresponding to meta‐analyses of the primary outcome to assess the possibility of publication bias if we identify a sufficient number of included studies (i.e. more than 10). We will also carry out sensitivity analyses to investigate the effect on the pooled results if the funnel plots are asymmetrical.

Subgroup analysis and investigation of heterogeneity

All three included trials in this review relate primarily to cervical transformation zone excision using electrical wire loop. Therefore, subgroup analyses according to the types of excisional techniques as mentioned in the review protocol was not feasible.