title: Perioperative antibiotics in major elective gynecologic surgery.
abstract: The efficacy of a three-dose, perioperative regimen of cefazolin or placebo in reducing postoperative infectious morbidity was evaluated in a double-blind study in 206 patients undergoing elective vaginal or abdominal hysterectomy. Postoperative infectious morbidity was defined as: an oral temperature of 100.4 F (38 C) or greater on any two postoperative days (excluding the first day), positive bacteriologic cultures, or pus from a wound. In premenopausal patients, cefazolin significantly reduced the incidence of postoperative infectious morbidity; 19% of the cefazolin group who had abdominal hysterectomy had evidence of infection compared to 71% of the placebo group, and 10% of the cefazolin group who had vaginal hysterectomies had evidence of infection compared to 37% of the placebo group. In postmenopausal patients undergoing abdominal hysterectomy, cefazolin also reduced the incidence of postoperative infection compared to placebo, but the difference was not significant (20% compared to 37%).
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002437:Cefazolin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D007045:Hysterectomy, Vaginal; D008593:Menopause; D010919:Placebos; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D002511:Cephalosporins; D010919:Placebos; D002437:Cefazolin