Background: Cesarean section and hysterectomy are most commonly performed operations in obstetrics and gynecology. The most common complication associated with hysterectomy is infection. Single dose preoperative antibiotic prophylactic therapy also reduces cost, potential toxicity, post operative infection and risk of duration of hospitalization, colonization with resistant organisms hence, the  current study is undertaken to evaluate a efficacy of single dose of preoperative antibiotic prophylaxis versus routine postoperative antibiotic therapy in gynecological surgeries.

Method: 100 patients admitted and undergoing elective Gynecological surgeries like vaginal hysterectomy, abdominal hysterectomy and laparotomies in the department of Obstetric and Gynecology were enrolled in the study as per selection criteria. They were randomly assigned as group I and group II after obtaining informed consent.

Result: The incidence of febrile morbidity in group I was 5% and 8.33% in group
II and was statistically insignificant. Incidence of infectious febrile morbidity in group I is 1.66 and 3.33% in group II. 3.33% patients in group I and 5% patients in group II had non-specific pyrexia. The incidence of postoperative infectious morbidity in group I was 5% and in group II was 10%. Prolonged postoperative stay (>10 days) observed in 10% of patients in group I and 21.66% patients in group II.

Conclusion: Single dose antibiotic prophylaxis is equally effective in preventing post operative (respiratory/ urinary/ pelvic) infections and surgical site infection. As far as safety is concerned, single dose antibiotic is safer than routine antibiotic for prolonged period. Single dose antibiotic prophylaxis is more cost effective than routine antibiotic for prolonged period. 

Keywords: Febrile Morbidity; Postoperative Stay; Antibiotic Prophylaxis; Adverse Effect of Drug.