Antibiotic prophylaxis in obstetric and gynaecological surgery

Abstract

Infectious complications have a great influence on the outcome of surgery. They not only increase the work load for health care workers, the need for additional surgery medication and costs but just as important are an additional source of morbidity and sometimes mortality for our patients. Infectious complications prolong hospital stays and certainly decrease success rates in surgery considerably. There is therefore no doubt that the prevention of postoperative infections is of the paramount importance. The surgeon's skill and knowledge are the most important factors in preventing post operative wound infections and antimicrobials are no substitute for surgical expertise. Antibiotic prophylaxis cannot correct fundamental surgical errors.