Aims: Inappropriate administration of antibiotics, in addition to increasing costs and drug reactions, can lead to the spread of resistant bacterial infections. Some studies have suggested that preoperative antibiotics are effective in reducing surgical infection. Other studies have shown that there is no difference between prescribing one-dose and three-dose antibiotics after surgery. Due to the lack of agreement on the use or non-use of antibiotics after surgery, the present study was performed to determine the effectiveness of antibiotics after elective cesarean section in reducing the rate of infection.
Material and methods: In this randomized clinical trial, 63 patients who were candidates for elective cesarean section received a dose of antibiotics (Cefazolin, 2g, intravenous injection) one hour before surgery. They were then randomly divided into two groups. The intervention group (n=37) received three doses of antibiotics (Cefazolin, 2g every 6h, intravenous injection), while the control group (n=26) did not receive any postoperative antibiotics. Patients were followed up for 40 days after surgery and the effectiveness of these two methods in preventing infection was investigated.
Results: There was no statistically significant difference between the intervention group and the control group in any of the parameters of age, weight, height and body mass index. Also, there was no significant difference between the rate of infection after cesarean section between the group receiving antibiotics and the control group (P> 0.05).
Conclusion: Findings of this study showed that receiving antibiotics after the cesarean section has no effect on the prevention of surgical infection.