Giving antibiotics before C/S decrease maternal infections complications

Article

Preoperative antibiotics before cesarean delivery significantly reduce postpartum endometritis compared to antibiotics given at cord clamping, but do not affect neonatal outcomes, according to research published in the September issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.

Preoperative antibiotics before cesarean delivery significantly reduce postpartum endometritis compared to antibiotics given at cord clamping, but do not affect neonatal outcomes, according to research published in the September issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.

Maged M. Costantine, MD, of the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, and colleagues performed a meta-analysis summarizing evidence related to perioperative antibiotic delivery during Caesarean sections. The authors searched for randomized controlled trials comparing pre-procedure antibiotics versus prophylactic antibiotics given at cord clamping.

Preoperative delivery of antibiotics significantly decreased the risks of postpartum endometritis and total infectious morbidity with relative risks of 0.47 and 0.50, respectively, the investigators found. However, preoperative delivery of antibiotics did not significantly decrease work-up for suspected neonatal sepsis (RR, 1.0), proven sepsis (RR, 0.93) or neonatal intensive care unit admissions (RR, 1.07). The researchers did not detect heterogeneity among the trials.

“There is strong evidence that antibiotic prophylaxis for Caesarean delivery that is given before skin incision, rather than after cord clamping, decreases the incidence of postpartum endometritis and total infectious morbidities, without affecting neonatal outcomes,” the authors conclude.

Costantine MM, Rahman M, Ghulmiyah L, et al. Timing of perioperative antibiotics for cesarean delivery: a metaanalysis. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2008;199:301.e1-301.e6.

Recent Videos
Devon Ramaeker, MD
Elizabeth Gandee, APRN-CNP, highlights gaps in women's menopause knowledge | Image Credit: wexnermedical.osu.edu
Doula highlights how postpartum care is failing new mothers | Image Credit: linkedin.com
Nicky Herrick MD; and Anushree Agarwal, MD, MBBS, highlight their study on cardiac arrhythmias in pregnancy | Image Credit: © Igor Borodin - stock.adobe.com.
Lisa Becht, MD, FACOG, sheds light on fertility awareness | Image Credit: havingbabies.com.
First US national HPV conference highlights advances in cancer prevention | Image Credit: uchealth.com.
Mitchell Creinin, MD, reports estetrol pill eases menstrual symptoms | Image Credit: health.ucdavis.edu
1 expert is featured in this series.
Susanna Mitro, PhD, reveals ethnic disparities in uterine fibroid diagnosis | Image Credit: divisionofresearch.kaiserpermanente.org.
Shayna Mancuso, DO, highlights the real impact of menopause | Image Credit: linkedin.com.
Related Content
© 2025 MJH Life Sciences

All rights reserved.