Prophylactic use of antibiotics in combined abdominovaginal Marlex sling procedures for correction of recurrent urinary stress incontinence.

The charts of 75 patients who underwent a combined abdominovaginal Marlex sling procedure to correct urinary incontinence were analysed to assess the value of antibiotic prophylaxis. Six patients who received antibiotics preoperatively for underlying medical problems were excluded from the study. Eighteen patients operated on before 1980 did not receive antibiotic prophylaxis and of these only 1 suffered a superficial abdominal wound infection. Fifty-one consecutive patients received antibiotics prophylactically; of this group again only 1 had a superficial abdominal wound infection. These findings suggest that antibiotic prophylaxis may not be necessary with this operation. Nevertheless, the authors believe a prospective, randomized, double-blind study to include a placebo is warranted, and such a study will be undertaken in their unit.