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Antibiotic profylaxis in obstetrics

Publication at Third Faculty of Medicine |
2013

Abstract

Nosocomial infections increase health care costs significantly and they are a real threat for all hospitalized patients as well. Surgical procedures affect immunological integrity in patients and increase risk of contamination and subsequent incidence of surgical site infections (SSIs).

Antibiotic prophylaxis according to recent trials has been shown to be effective in reducing the risks of postoperative infectious complications particularly in women undergoing cesarean section, termination of pregnancy in I. and II. trimester and repair of extensive obstetric perineal injuries. Benefit of antibiotic prophylaxis hasn't been proven in procedures such as amniocentesis, cerclage and manual uterine evacuation.

The routine antibiotic administration isn't recommended in cases of spontaneous preterm labour without membrane rupture due to an increased risk of worse long-term outcome of children. The authors present also recent studies regarding antivirotic prophylaxis in pregnant women with hepatitis B and herpes genitalis recidivans.

In the end of the article differences in antimicrobial administration in obese women and in patients with penicillin allergy anamnesis are mentioned.