The prophylactic use of Keflex and Keflin in vaginal hysterectomy

Although the number of severe infections occurring after vaginal hysterectomy are few,they sometimes result in the death of a patient or a protracted hospital course. A prospective double-blind study, using Keflex and Keflin in theraputic doses,was undertaken to elucidate more clearly the effect upon morbidity in vaginal hysterectomy. Cultures were taken form a catheterized urine specimen and the cervix of all patients before surgery. Cultures were repeated on the fourth postoperative day. Morbidity was defined as an oral temperature of 100.6 degrees F. on two separate occasions, 4hours apart in the postoperative period. Of the 60 patients studied thus far, 43.3 percent of the 30 placebo patients exceeded these febrile limits and were determined as thosewith infectious morbidity. Only 13.3 of the 30 patients who received the prophalatic drug showed this morbidity.