Ceftriaxone versus ampicillin/cloxacillin as antibiotic prophylaxis in elective caesarean section

ABSTRACT

We carried out a prospective, r and omized, controlled clinical trial to evaluate the clinical efficacy of ceftriaxone and ampicillin/cloxacillin prophylaxis in decreasing the frequency of post-caesarean section infection-related morbidity. Two hundred patients randomly received either ceftriaxone [single dose] or ampicillin/cloxacillin [3 doses] intravenously at induction of anaesthesia. There was no statistical difference in incidence of endometritis [P = 0.34], wound infection [P = 0.44], or other febrile morbidity [P = 0.5]. Eleven babies had a low Apgar score [< 8] in the ceftriaxone group and 13 in the ampicillin/cloxacillin group [P = 0.82].There were 2 perinatal deaths in each group. One dose of ceftriaxone was as effective as ampicillin/ cloxacillin in preventing post-caesarean section complications and is easier to administer