The effect of antibiotic prophylaxis on patients undergoing total abdominal hysterectomy. II. Alterations of microbial flora.

Preoperative cultures of the endocervix were taken on 93 women who subsequently underwent total abdominal hysterectomy and received a 5 day course of either prophylactic cephalosporins or placebo. Postoperative cultures of the vaginal apex were taken on 86 of these women 5 days after surgery, i.e. 1 day after the cessation of study medication. Comparisons of the preoperative and postoperative flora in both the active drug and placebo groups as well as comparisons between the postoperative flora of the drug group and that of the placebo group were made. Postoperative alterations of bacterial flora occurred whether or not the patient received prophylactic antibiotics.