Different classes of antibiotics given to women routinely for preventing infection at caesarean section

Abstract

Background Caesarean section increases the risk of postpartum infection for women and prophylactic antibiotics have been shown to reduce the incidence; however, there are adverse effects. It is important to identify the most effective class of antibiotics to use and those with the least adverse effects. Objectives To determine, from the best available evidence, the balance of benefits and harms between different classes of antibiotic given prophylactically to women undergoing caesarean section. Search strategy We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's Trials Register (April 2010) and reference lists of retrieved papers. Selection criteria We included randomised controlled trials comparing different classes of prophylactic antibiotics given to women undergoing caesarean section. We excluded trials that compared drugs with placebo or drugs within a specific class; these are assessed in other Cochrane Reviews. Data collection and analysis Two review authors independently assessed the studies for inclusion, assessed risk of bias and carried out data extraction. Main results We included 29 studies of which 25 provided data on 6367 women. There was a lack of good quality data and important outcomes often included only small numbers of women. This meant we could only conclude that the current evidence shows no overall difference between the different classes of antibiotics in terms of reducing maternal infections after caesarean sections. However, none of the studies…