Effects of antibiotics on prevention of infection, white blood cell counts, and C-reactive protein levels at different times in the perioperative period of cesarean section

Objective: To evaluate the effects of Antibiotics on prevention of Infection, white blood cell (WBC) counts and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels at different times in the perioperative period of cesarean section.

Materials and methods: A total of 486 women undergoing cesarean section were randomly divided into groups A, B, and C (n = 162). Group A was intravenously infused with 250 mL of 0.9% normal saline containing 2 g cefuroxime sodium 30 minutes before surgery within 30 - 45 minutes. Group B was given cefuroxime 30 minutes before surgery and 3 days after surgery, respectively. Group C was given cefuroxime only after returning to ward, once daily for 3 consecutive days. The surgical time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative hospital-stay length, hospitalization expenditure, maximum body temperature, WBC count and CRP level 3 days after surgery, grade A healing rate of incision at discharge, and incidence of Infection were compared.

Results: Group A had the shortest postoperative hospital-stay length and lowest hospitalization expenditure (p < 0.05). The maximum body temperature, WBC count and CRP level of group A 3 days after surgery were lowest (p < 0.05). The three groups had similar grade A healing rates of incision (p > 0.05). The postoperative Infection rates of groups A and B were similar (p > 0.05), both being significantly lower than that of group C (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Single prophylactic use of Antibiotics 30 minutes before surgery effectively prevented Infection after cesarean section and shortened the hospital-stay length. This method is worthy of clinical promotion due to short duration of Antibiotic use and low hospitalization expenditure.