[ effect of intravenous cefazolin on infectious complications following low- risk cesarean]

ABSTRACT

Cesarean section is one of the most common surgeries in modern obstetrics. Infectious complications such as fever, wound infection, endometritis and urinary tract infection are the most serious complications following cesarean. Nevertheless, there are no uniform recommendations regarding the application of prophylactic antibiotics. Since inappropriate application of antibiotics could impose high costs as well as drug side effects and emergence of resistant microorganisms, this study was carried out with the aim of evaluating the effect of prophylactic antibiotics on infectious complications following the low-risk cesarean section. This prospective, clinical trial study was performed on 257 patients who underwent low-risk cesarean section. The patients were randomly divided into treatment [A] and control [B] groups. The patients in group A received 2gr intravenous cefazolin at cord clamping, while the control group received no antibiotic. The patients were evaluated during the first 48 hours, the first week, the second week, and the sixth week following the surgery and infectious complications were compared in two groups. Out of 257 patients, 16 cases [6.2%] developed infectious complications of whom 6 patients [4.7%] were in group A and 10 patients [7.8%] fell into group B. Complications included fever [2.3% in each group], endometritis [0.8% in group A and 2.3% in group B], urinary infection [1.6% in group A and 3.1% in group B], wound infection [1.6% in group A and 2.3% in group B] and wound dehiscence [1.6% in each group]. No significant difference was observed between the administration of prophylactic antibiotic and the complications. Moreover, the duration of hospital stay following cesarean section was not statistically different in each group. Based on the study findings it can be recommended that prophylactic antibiotic be restricted only to the high-risk cesarean section individuals