%0 Journal Article
%T Single dose versus multiple dose of antibiotic prophylaxis in caesarean section: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
%A Pinto-Lopes R
%A Sousa-Pinto B
%A Azevedo LF
%J BJOG
%V 124
%N 4
%D Mar 2017
%M 27885778
%F 7.331
%R 10.1111/1471-0528.14373
%X <B>BACKGROUND: </B>Prophylactic antibiotics are traditionally given as a single dose for caesarean section. However, inconsistent application of recommendations and recent evidence prompted a literature review.<BR><B>OBJECTIVE: </B>To assess the optimal regimen for antibiotic prophylaxis in caesarean section by comparing single versus multiple doses of the same intervention.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>MEDLINE, Web of Knowledge, SCOPUS, CENTRAL and ongoing trials databases were searched. Reference lists were reviewed and international groups contacted.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>Randomised controlled trials (RCT) comparing single with multiple dose regimens of the same antibiotic prophylaxis. Quasi-RCT and abstracts were suitable for inclusion.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>Reviewers independently extracted data and assessed quality of evidence. A random-effects model was used and results presented as risk ratio (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>Sixteen studies were included, involving 2695 women. Nonsignificant differences were observed between single dose and multiple dose antibiotic prophylaxis in the incidence of postpartum infectious morbidity (RR 0.95, 95% CI 0.75-1.20, I2 = 25%), endometritis (RR 1.03, 95% CI 0.74-1.42, I2 = 0%) and wound infection (RR 1.22, 95% CI 0.72-2.08, I2 = 0%). A trend towards lower risk of urinary tract infection was seen with multiple dose (RR 0.65, 95% CI 0.34-1.24, I2 = 0%).<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>There was insufficient evidence to determine whether there is a difference between single and multiple dose regimens in reducing the incidence of infectious morbidity after caesarean section. The quality of evidence was very low and well-designed RCTs are needed.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>Insufficient evidence of difference between dosage regimens of antibiotic prophylaxis in caesarean section.