title: Comparison of short versus long term antibiotic prophylaxis in elective caesarean section at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was to determine any significant difference between the incidence of infectious morbidity with the use of a 24 hour antibiotics regimen compared to a 7-day course of antibiotics following elective caesarean section using a cheap and easily available combination of Ampicillin/Cloxacillin and Metronidazole.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred patients planned to have elective caesarean section for various indications and who satisfied the inclusion criteria were enrolled in the study in two groups of 100 patients each between the period of January to June 2010. Patients were randomized to receive either Ampiclox as 4 intravenous doses of 1g stat and 500 mg each 6 hourly and Metronidazole as 3 intravenous doses of 500 mg each 8 hourly both for 24 hours or same combination intravenously for 48 hours and subsequent oral use for 5 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean maternal age, parity, gestational age and indication for caesarean section were similar in the two groups of participants. There was no statistical difference in the incidence of febrile morbidity (17%/18%, p=0.852), urinary tract infection (6%/4%, p=0.196), wound infection (4%/3%, p=0.056) and endometritis (3%/2%, p=0.367). The mean cost of antibiotics per patient (N730/$4.65) in the short term prophylaxis group was half that of the long term prophylaxis group (N1, 540/$9.81).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was no difference in the incidence of infection related morbidity when short term prophylactic antibiotics was used at elective caesarean section compared to long term prophylactic antibiotics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Perinatology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. tadelar@yahoo.com
authors.forename: A O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Ijarotimi
authors.forename: O O
authors.initials: OO
authors.lastname: Badejoko
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ijarotimi
authors.forename: O M
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Loto
authors.forename: E O
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Orji
authors.forename: O B
authors.initials: OB
authors.lastname: Fasubaa
mesh_terms: D000667:Ampicillin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000191:economics; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis / Q000191:economics; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003023:Cloxacillin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects; D004716:Endometritis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009549:Nigeria; D011247:Pregnancy; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D008795:Metronidazole; C016828:Viccillin S (combination); D000667:Ampicillin; D003023:Cloxacillin