Ceftriaxone versus ampicillin/cloxacillin as antibiotic prophylaxis in elective caesarean section.

We carried out a prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial to evaluate the clinical efficacy of ceftriaxone and ampicillin/cloxacillin prophylaxis in decreasing the frequency of post-caesarean section infection-related morbidity. Two hundred patients randomly received either ceftriaxone (single dose) or ampicillin/cloxacillin (3 doses) intravenously at induction of anaesthesia. There was no statistical difference in incidence of endometritis (P = 0.34), wound infection (P = 0.44), or other febrile morbidity (P = 0.5). Eleven babies had a low Apgar score (< 8) in the ceftriaxone group and 13 in the ampicillin/cloxacillin group (P = 0.82). There were 2 perinatal deaths in each group. One dose of ceftriaxone was as effective as ampicillin/ cloxacillin in preventing post-caesarean section complications and is easier to administer.