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Prevention of postcesarean infectious morbidity with a single dose of intravenous metronidazole
Author(s) -
RuizMoreno J.A.,
GarciaRojas J.M.,
LozadaLeon J.D.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
international journal of gynecology and obstetrics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.895
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1879-3479
pISSN - 0020-7292
DOI - 10.1016/0020-7292(91)90352-6
Subject(s) - medicine , metronidazole , endometritis , placebo , regimen , cord clamping , antibiotics , anesthesia , surgery , pregnancy , cord , alternative medicine , pathology , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics
The efficacy of intravenous metronidazole for the prevention of postcesarean section infectious morbidity was studied in 100 healthy women, randomly given either the drug or a placebo. The metronidazole group received 1.0 g intravenously, immediately after cord clamping. Among the 50 patients who received metronidazole, endometritis developed in 7 (14%) as it did in 15 (30%) of the placebo group (P < 0.01); wound infection was found in 1 (2%) and 4 (8%), respectively (P < 0.01). If both infectious complications are compared together, the difference (16% versus 38%) is more significant (P < 0.001). Metronidazole was well tolerated by the mother and with this type of administration regimen, the fetus is not exposed to the drug. It is concluded that metronidazole, used as here reported, is effective in reducing the frequency of postcesarean section endometritis and wound infection with the consequent clinical and economic impacts.