Giving antibiotics before cesarean section surgery rather than just after the newborn's umbilical cord is clamped cuts the infection rate at the surgical site in half, according to researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and Barnes-Jewish Hospital.
For the study, researchers followed more than 8,000 women over an eight-year period from January 2003 to December 2010. The hospital changed its policy from administering antibiotics after the surgical delivery of the baby to administering antibiotics before C-section surgery in January 2004.
In 2003, the year before the policy changed, the infection rate oscillated around nine or 10 infections per 100 cesarean deliveries. By 2010, the rate was about two infections per 100 cesarean sections. On average, the researchers calculated about five fewer infections per 100 surgeries due to changing the timing of the antibiotics. Over the entire eight-year period, the researchers observed 303 infections following 8,668 cesarean deliveries.
For the study, researchers followed more than 8,000 women over an eight-year period from January 2003 to December 2010. The hospital changed its policy from administering antibiotics after the surgical delivery of the baby to administering antibiotics before C-section surgery in January 2004.
In 2003, the year before the policy changed, the infection rate oscillated around nine or 10 infections per 100 cesarean deliveries. By 2010, the rate was about two infections per 100 cesarean sections. On average, the researchers calculated about five fewer infections per 100 surgeries due to changing the timing of the antibiotics. Over the entire eight-year period, the researchers observed 303 infections following 8,668 cesarean deliveries.
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