title: The routine use of cefazolin in cesarean section.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effectiveness and safety of the routine use of antibiotic prophylaxis in women undergoing cesarean section.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four hundred and forty-one women undergoing cesarean sections were randomly assigned either to a single dose of 1 g intravenous cefazolin or placebo after clamping of the umbilical cord. The primary outcome was the development of post-operative febrile morbidity and the secondary outcomes were infection-related complications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 211 emergency and 230 elective cesarean sections. In the emergency cesarean sections, 34 (30.6%) women developed post-operative febrile morbidity in the placebo group compared to 11 (11%) women in the cefazolin group. This was a statistically significant difference (P = 0.001). Similarly, there were statistically significant differences between the two groups in the development of wound infection (P<0.001), use of therapeutic antibiotics (P = 0.001), and post-operative days in hospital (P = 0.003). No statistically significant differences were detected in the development of other infection-related complications. In the elective cesarean sections, no statistically significant differences were found in post-operative febrile morbidity and infection-related complications. There were no serious side effects related to the use of cefazolin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The routine use of a single dose of cefazolin is safe and effective in emergency but not elective cesarean section.
authors.affiliation: King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Rouzi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Khalifa
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ba'aqeel
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Al-Hamdan
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bondagji
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis; D002437:Cefazolin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D002511:Cephalosporins; D002437:Cefazolin