comparison of metronidazole and ceftizoxime in prophylaxis of post-hysterectomy infections

ceftizoxime is the standard agent used in prophylaxis of infections after abdominal hysterectomy. metronidazole could be used instead of ceftizoxime for this matter. to compare these two drugs, in a randomized clinical trial, 34 patients received metronidazole suppositories (1g) and 34 patients received intravenous ceftizoxime (1g) before surgery.   there were not any significant demographic (age, weight, parity, hospitalization duration, pre-operation hemoglobin) difference between two groups.   also, the incision type and post-operation bleeding were the same in two groups. the complications after abdominal hysterectomy such as febrile morbidity, urinary tract infections and wound infections were not significantly different between two treatment groups. these results indicate that a single dose metronidazole has the same effect as ceftizoxime in infection prophylaxis of post-hysterectomy infection.