163 patients received cesarean sections in this hospital from October

1996 to December

1997. 106 patients with premature rupture of membranes (PROM) were given either penicillin G and 0.5% metronidazole by intrsvenous infusion for three days or cefoitin by intravenous injection once before operation

and no statistical difference was found between the two groups (11%and 20% infection rate P>0.05). 32 patients with no premature rupture of membranes were also given penicillin G and 0.5% metronidazole before opefation and 25 patients were given vitamin C as control

and no difference was found (9.4% and 8% infection ratep> 0.05). This study demonstrated that penicillin G and 0.5% metronidazole and cefoitin were effective for preventing infection in PROM

and that antibiotics were not necessary for elective cesarean section.