Results Prophylactic antibiotics  prevent inflammatory complications after gynaecological surgery .
Prophylactic antibiotics are more effective in surgery requiring access to the peritoneal cavity or the vagina .
Cefotetan appears to be more capable in preventing the overall inflammatory complication rate than cefoxitin or cefazolin .
No benefit has been shown for the combination of antibiotics as prophylaxis .
No difference has been shown between the long-term and short-term use of antibiotics .
There is no need for the primary use of an anaerobic antibacterial agent .
Conclusion Antibiotics help to prevent postoperative inflammatory complications after major gynecologic surgeries
Purpose The aim of this study was to systematic ally review the literature on antibiotic prophylaxis in gynaecologic surgeries to prevent inflammatory complications after gynaecological operations .
Metronidazole prophylaxis to prevent infections after total abdominal hysterectomy
METHODS In a r and omized double-blind study , 134 patients were given 500 mg metronidazole as an intravenous infusion immediately before operation for abdominal total hysterectomy and again 8 hours later and 124 patients received placebo . RESULTS There was more wound infection , postoperative hospitalization was longer and the sedimentation rate on the sixth postoperative day was significantly higher in the placebo group . There was no difference in postoperative temperature . Postoperative wound infections occurred in 12 % in the placebo group and 6 % in the metronidazole group . Eight percent in the total material had urinary tract infections , the diagnosis was based on urine cultures . CONCLUSIONS Prophylaxis with intravenous infusion of metronidazole is recommended in total hysterectomies
Results Prophylactic antibiotics  prevent inflammatory complications after gynaecological surgery .
Prophylactic antibiotics are more effective in surgery requiring access to the peritoneal cavity or the vagina .
Cefotetan appears to be more capable in preventing the overall inflammatory complication rate than cefoxitin or cefazolin .
No benefit has been shown for the combination of antibiotics as prophylaxis .
No difference has been shown between the long-term and short-term use of antibiotics .
There is no need for the primary use of an anaerobic antibacterial agent .
Conclusion Antibiotics help to prevent postoperative inflammatory complications after major gynecologic surgeries
Purpose The aim of this study was to systematic ally review the literature on antibiotic prophylaxis in gynaecologic surgeries to prevent inflammatory complications after gynaecological operations .