Factors affecting the incidence of infectious morbidity after radical hysterectomy.

A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was performed to assess the value of cefoxitin for prophylaxis against postoperative infection following radical hysterectomy. Infectious morbidity was observed in 35% of 43 patients in the control group and 23% of 31 in the cefoxitin group. In seven control patients (16%) and one patient (3%) in the cefoxitin group the infections were related to the surgical site (p = 0.07). These differences did not achieve statistical significance. Examination of the data revealed a number of other factors, including operating time, patient weight, blood loss, and blood replacement, that were significantly related to the incidence of infectious morbidity. Comparison of the results of the present study with those in the literature indicates that a careful examination of the circumstances prevailing in any particular institution is necessary before a decision is made on strategies to combat infectious morbidity after radical hysterectomy.