Date Posted: June 4, 2026

Author/s: Mary Grace O. Cheng, MD; Lylah D. Reyes, MD, FPOGS and Jennifer T. Co, MD, FPOGS

Objective: Surgical Site Infection is a common complication among all surgical cases. It is the most common nosocomial infection identified in the developing world with pooled incidence of 11.8 per 100 surgical procedures. In this institution, the SSI rate in major obstetric and gynecologic cases in years 2000 to 2013 is 12.68%.

Objective: To compare the efficacy of a single dose Cefazolin versus a single dose Cefazolin plus 7-day Mupirocin ointment wound application in preventing surgical site infection among women undergoing major obstetric and gynecologic abdominal surgical procedures.

Methodology: Included in this study were 164 female participants, 18 to 65 years of age and who underwent major obstetric and gynecologic surgical procedures. Participants were randomly assigned to group A and B, wherein all participants were given single dose of 2-grams Cefazolin, intravenous, 30 minutes prior to skin incision. For the participants in group B, an additional 7- day application of mupirocin ointment on incisional wound during the post- operative period was done. Assessment for occurrence of SSI and healing time using a standardized collection tool and Southampton wound scoring system, respectively was done on the 8th, 15th and 30th post-operative days.

Results: Incidence of surgical site infection was 2.45% (4 out of 164 participants). It was slightly higher in the Cefazolin only with three cases, and only one case in the Cefazolin plus mupirocin group. However the difference of SSI occurrence between the two groups is not statistically significant. Wound healing time was also evaluated and found comparable between treatment groups.

Conclusion: Single dose Cefazolin plus 7-day once daily Mupirocin ointment is comparable to single dose of Cefazolin in preventing Surgical Site Infection in patients undergoing major low-risk obstetric and gynecologic surgeries. Therefore, addition of mupirocin in uncomplicated major obstetric and gynecologic surgical cases is not cost-beneficial.

Keywords:
Cefazolin, mupirocin, surgical site infection, obstetric surgery, gynecologic surgery