A randomized clinical trial evaluating prophylactic single-dose vs prolonged course of antibiotics for caesarean section in a high HIV-prevalence setting

Abstract

The evidence that perioperative antibiotics for caesarean delivery are effective in reducing infective morbidity is unequivocal. In developing countries, especially those with high HIV-prevalence, clinicians have increasingly become anxious about the efficacy of perioperative antibiotics, hence the adoption of treatment regimens, as described in this study. We set out to investigate if these fears have a basis by conducting a randomised clinical trial. The setting was two tertiary units in a developing country with a significant HIV-prevalence. The outcome measures assessed were: pyrexia, wound infection, admission with puerperal sepsis, laparotomy for pelvic abscess and duration of hospital stay. There was no statistically significant difference between the two arms of the study with regard to the above outcomes. Our conclusion is that the two antibiotic regimens are equivalent in preventing infection, therefore there is no justification for subjecting patients to week-long antibiotics and the unnecessary increase in nurse workload.