Prophylactic and antimicrobial therapy using lincomycin in patients undergoing emergency caesarean section.

The influence of prophylactic antimicrobial therapy with lincomycin and metronidazole on the vaginal carriage rates of anaerobes and the development of postoperative infection was studied in 60 women who underwent emergency surgery. Lincomycin prophylaxis in 20 patients led to a decrease in the vaginal carriage rate from 85% pre-operatively to 20% on both the 3rd and the 5th postoperative day. Metronidazole prophylaxis resulted in a similar decrease. In the placebo group of 20 patients no significant decrease in anaerobic yield was noted, the corresponding figures being 100%, 75% and 80% respectively. Furthermore, 6 of the placebo group had wound infections, compared with one each in the lincomycin and metronidazole groups.