The American journal of medicine
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Studies throughout the world demonstrate the effectiveness of prophylactic antibiotics in vaginal hysterectomy and cesarean section. Febrile morbidity is reduced by more than one half, and pelvic infections are reduced one third to one fifth, respectively. Prophylactic antibiotics are most beneficial in high-risk cesarean section, such as in patients in labor and with ruptured membranes. ⋯ First- and second-generation cephalosporins are the antibiotics most frequently used. In vaginal hysterectomies, a single preoperative dose, and in cesarean section, three perioperative doses seem to be adequate. Infections occurring despite prophylactic antibiotics are often caused by resistant organisms.