[A study on the prophylactic effect of cefotaxime against postoperative infections in the obstetrical and gynecological field].

Prophylactic effect of cefotaxime (CTX) against postoperative infection at a dose level of 2 g intravenous per day for 5 days was investigated using fever index in patients who underwent abdominal cesarean section, abdominal simple panhysterectomy or radical hysterectomy. The results obtained are summarized as follows. Total fever index values were 3.53 +/- 2.07 degree hours in a group receiving CTX for prophylactic purpose in abdominal cesarean section (n = 15), 22.25 +/- 0.19 degree hours in a group that had infections before cesarean section and was treated with CTX (n = 2), 3.79 +/- 3.87 degree hours in a group administered with CTX for prophylactic purpose in abdominal simple panhysterectomy (n = 13), at a low level of 3.10 +/- 3.60 degree hours in a group administered with CTX and astromicin (400 mg i.m. per day for 5 days) for prophylaxis in abdominal simple panhysterectomy (n = 13), and 6.72 +/- 3.14 degree hours in a group receiving CTX for prophylaxis in radical hysterectomy (n = 7). When daily fever index values were expressed as cumulative proportions (%) of total fever index, specific patterns were observed for different types of surgical procedures. As the results obtained in our current study as well as our previous study indicate, different antibiotics also influenced these patterns differently. No abnormal laboratory findings nor side effects attributable to CTX were observed.