Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Meta-Analysis
. 2008 Sep;199(3):301.e1-6.
doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2008.06.077.

Timing of perioperative antibiotics for cesarean delivery: a metaanalysis

Maged M Costantine  1 , Mahbubur Rahman, Labib Ghulmiyah, Benjamin D Byers, Monica Longo, Tony Wen, Gary D V Hankins, George R Saade
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Timing of perioperative antibiotics for cesarean delivery: a metaanalysis

Maged M Costantine et al. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2008 Sep.

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to summarize the available evidence on timing of perioperative antibiotics for cesarean delivery.

Study design: We searched the literature for studies that compare prophylactic antibiotics for cesarean delivery that are given before the procedure vs at cord clamping. Only randomized controlled trials were included.

Results: Preoperative administration significantly reduced the risk of postpartum endometritis (relative risk [RR], 0.47; 95% CI, 0.26-0.85; P = .012) and total infectious morbidity (RR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.33-0.78; P = .002). There was a trend toward lower risk of wound infection (RR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.30-1.21; P = .15). Preoperative administration of antibiotics did not significantly affect suspected neonatal sepsis that requires a workup (RR, 1; 95% CI, 0.70-1.42), proven sepsis (RR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.45-1.96), or neonatal intensive care unit admissions (RR, 1.07 95% CI, 0.51-2.24). There was no significant heterogeneity between the randomized controlled trials.

Conclusion: There is strong evidence that antibiotic prophylaxis for cesarean delivery that is given before skin incision, rather than after cord clamping, decreases the incidence of postpartum endometritis and total infectious morbidities, without affecting neonatal outcomes.

PubMed Disclaimer

Publication types