Influence of different timeframes of antibiotic application on postoperative infections in patients with caesarean section

Background/objectives: Prophylactic, intravenous antibiotics are a known protective factor for surgery-related infections in patients undergoing caesarean section. This study aims to determine the impact of the timing of antibiotics and their influence on postoperative infection-related morbidity. Application 30 min before laparotomy was compared with application after umbilical cord clamping. Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed the data of 6,034 patients giving birth by Caesarean section in University Clinic St. Hedwig, Regensburg. Germany. 3,001 cases (2017-2019) received a single shot of antibiotics 30 min before skin incision (Group 1), whereas in 3,033 women delivering by Caesarean section (2021-2023) the antibiotic was applied after cord clamping and child development (Group 2). Excluded were 62 cases for showing signs of infection before surgery or having a premature rupture of membranes prior to developing an infection. Results: 20 patients in each group developed surgery-related infections. The calculated Odds Ratio did not differ between groups. The risk for postoperative infection after Caesarean section was 1.6%. Conclusions: In this study there was not found a significant difference between the two examined time points of antibiotic application in the numbers of postoperative infections. The results did not show an increased maternal risk for surgery-related infections by antibiotic application after cord clamping.