[Peri-operative preventive use of antibiotics in abdominal hysterectomy]

In patients undergoing abdominal hysterectomy, the efficacy of antibiotic prophylaxis was compared to no treatment. Additional studies on the influence of risk factors such as D&C, conisation and IUD's on post-operative morbidity were evaluated. 144 patients were recruited into the study and prospectively randomised into one of four groups. Groups IV and II received 2 g i.v. Cefotetan and were comprised of patients with or without risk factors, respectively. Similarly, groups III and I, again with or without risk factors, received no treatment and served as the control groups. Infectious post-operative morbidity was significantly reduced in both groups of patients receiving antibiotic prophylaxis, the maximum benefit being observed in those patients with accompanying risk factors. The need for additional antibiotic therapy was highest in those patients receiving no antibiotic prophylaxis, i.e. groups III and I. Additionally if concomitant risk factors were present, the duration of hospitalisation was increased by a further 1.4 days.