Objective: To assess the differences in maternal infectious morbidity when cefazolin is administered prior to skin incision versus after clamping the umbilical cord in elective caesarean section. Infectious morbidities include febrile morbidity, surgical site infection, endometritis, and urinary tract infection.

Materials and Methods: The present study was a prospective double-blind randomized controlled trial of 92 pregnant women who visited Krathumbaen Hospital for antenatal care at 37 weeks of pregnancy, of whom elective cesarean section was indicated, between June and December 2020. The participants were randomly divided into two groups. Group A represented those who receive cefazolin prior to skin incision and Group B represented those received cefazolin after umbilical cord clamping. After the cesarean operation, data were collected from medical records, and each group would be observed for complications. Frequency, percentage frequency distribution, mean and standard deviation, independent t-test, Chi-square, and Fisher exact test were the statistical data utilized. The data were displayed in a descriptive statistical form following the analysis. The define p-value in the present study trial is p=0.05.

Results: Demographic variables were not different between groups. Findings revealed that nine (19.57%) pregnant women in group A and ten (21.74%) in group B experienced febrile morbidity, which was not statistically significantly different. Neither group had any postoperative surgical site infection, endometritis, or urinary tract infection.

Conclusion: Comparing post-operative infectious morbidity, there was no significant difference in the time when cefazolin was administered before skin incision or after umbilical cord clamping in elective cesarean section.

Keywords: Prophylactic antibiotic; Elective cesarean section; Infectious morbidity

DOI: 10.35755/jmedassocthai.2022.07.13334

Received 7 February 2022 | Revised 25 April 2022 | Accepted 6 May 2022