Prophylactic intravenous metronidazole in cesarean section

Prophylactic chemotherapy was given to 100 patients who underwent cesarean section. Ampicillin was given to 50 patients and I.V. metronidazole to the other 50 (in a single dose of 500 mg to 20 and in 3 doses to 30 patients). The overall febrile morbidity was 20%. Metronidazole was superior in reducing febrile morbidity and wound sepsis, compared to ampicillin (P less than 0.05). This study supports the concept of prophylactic chemotherapy being beneficial to the obstetric patient. A single dose of 500 mg I.V. is satisfactory for prophylactic use in cesarean section.