Effect of prophylactic antibiotics ( Cephalosporin versus Amoxicillin ) on preventing post caesarean section infection

Prophylactic antibiotics have been shown to be effective in reducing the incidence of febrile morbidity associated with cesarean section after labor. However, the relative effectiveness of different single antibiotics has been studied infrequently. Several new broad spectrum antibiotics are now available, and any further benefit from more traditional antibiotics for surgical prophylaxis remains untested. A randomized clinical trial for testing the efficacy of cephalosporin versus Amoxicillin in preventing post cesarean section infection, and to identify the role of health education about wound care in reducing post cesarean section wound infection. This study conducted at emergency unit of the Obstetrics &Gynecological department, Woman's Health Center, Assiut University Hospital, between 2008 to 2009. Women's undergoing emergency and elective cesarean section were recruited into the study and given either drug as prophylaxis. The sample comprised 200 pregnant women. 100 pregnant women received Amoxicillin and the other 100 pregnant women received Cephalosporin as a prophylactic antibiotic. For each group, 50 women received routine hospital wound care and the other 50 women received health education about wound care. Random assignment was done by computer generated tables. Concealed envelopes containing the random number made to be opened after deciding to include the case in the study. The present study presented that the incidence of postoperative wound infection was significantly higher in Amoxicillin group (12%) versus (3%) in Cephalosporin group ,(P=0.016). It was also illustrated from the present study that, women who had infected wounds(3%) did not receive health education about wound care and were not significantly higher than those received health education about wound care (2%), (P=0.361).. We can concluded that use of Amoxicillin as a prophylactic antibiotic as effective as Cephalosporin in preventing post cesarean section wound infection. And women that received health education about wound care are less likely to expose to wound infection than those who receive only routine hospital care, in spite that the comparative results are not significant. [Walaa H. Ibrahim, Ahmed. M. Makhlouf, Mervat A. Khamis, and Entisar M.Youness. Effect of prophylactic antibiotics (Cephalosporin versus Amoxicillin) on preventing post caesarean section infection. Journal of American Science 2011;7(5):178-187]. (ISSN: 1545-1003). http://www.americanscience.org.