Comparison between Azithromycin and Cephalexin for Preventing Infection after Cesarean Section in Obese Patient

Introduction: Postcesarean infection can cause maternal mortality and morbidity. Use of prophylactic antibiotics could decrease surgical site infection. Despite using prophylactic antibiotics in obese women, compared to normal weighted women the rate of wound infection is higher in this group. The aim of this study is to compare prophylactic effect of azithromycin and cephalexin on febrile morbidity and postcesarean infection in women with BMI > 30. Methods and Materials: This randomized controlled double blind clinical trial was done on 231 women with BMI > 30 who underwent elective cesarean section. Patients were randomly divided to intervention and control groups. Keflin 2 gr IV was administered 0.5 hr before surgery for both intervention and control groups. Cefalexin (placebo) every 6 hr and azythromycin (placebo) every 12 hr for control group and cephalexin 500 mg every 6 hr and azithromycin 250 mg every 12 hr for intervention group were administered for 48 hrs. Patients were under observation till 1 month after surgery. Fever, wound infection, endometritis and hospitalization were compared between two groups with SPSS v. 18. Results: A total of 231 patients 113 (48.9%) were enrolled in intervention group and 118 (51.1%) in control group with mean age of (28.53 ± 5.51) recruited. BMI distribution did not differ in the two groups. Hospitalization in control group was significantly higher than that in intervention group (2.58 ± 0.99) vs (2.11 ± 0.45) (P value < 0.001). BMI in intervention group with and without fever was (34.62 ± 2.64) and (30.89 ± 2.80), respectively (P value < 0.001). In control group, BMI in patients with and without fever was (38.60 ± 2.80) and (31.29 ± 1.28), respectively (P value = 0.001). Fever and endometritis simultaneously was seen in 3 (2.7%) of intervention group and 8 (6.8%) of control group. In interventions 3 (2.7%) had fever but no endometritis and 2 (1.8%) had endometritis but no fever (P < 0.001). In control group, 23 (19.5%) patients had fever but no endometritis and 4 (3.4%) patients had endometritis but no fever (P value < 0.001). Febrile patients in control group 31 (26.3%) were significantly more than those in intervention group 6 (5.3%) (P value < 0.001). Discussion: Administration of prophylactic azithromycin and cephalexin resulted in a decrease in febrile morbidity and length of hospital stay and is recommended. BMI of patients with fever was significantly higher in both intervention and control groups compared to those who didn’t experience fever. Postcesarean endometritis wasn’t significantly different in two groups. Postcesarean wound infection wasn’t seen in any group.