• Maged M Costantine, Mahbubur Rahman, Labib Ghulmiyah, Benjamin D Byers, Monica Longo, Tony Wen, Gary D V Hankins, and George R Saade.
• Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555-0587, USA.
• Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. 2008 Sep 1; 199 (3): 301.e1-6.

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to summarize the available evidence on timing of perioperative antibiotics for cesarean delivery.Study DesignWe searched the literature for studies that compare prophylactic antibiotics for cesarean delivery that are given before the procedure vs at cord clamping. Only randomized controlled trials were included.ResultsPreoperative administration significantly reduced the risk of postpartum endometritis (relative risk [RR], 0.47; 95% CI, 0.26-0.85; P = .012) and total infectious morbidity (RR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.33-0.78; P = .002). There was a trend toward lower risk of wound infection (RR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.30-1.21; P = .15). Preoperative administration of antibiotics did not significantly affect suspected neonatal sepsis that requires a workup (RR, 1; 95% CI, 0.70-1.42), proven sepsis (RR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.45-1.96), or neonatal intensive care unit admissions (RR, 1.07 95% CI, 0.51-2.24). There was no significant heterogeneity between the randomized controlled trials.ConclusionThere is strong evidence that antibiotic prophylaxis for cesarean delivery that is given before skin incision, rather than after cord clamping, decreases the incidence of postpartum endometritis and total infectious morbidities, without affecting neonatal outcomes.

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