The PATPET trial is a randomized, controlled trial done at tertiary hospital obstetric units in Israel. Women who had first and second-degree tear (or after episiotomy) after delivery at 37 weeks or greater gestation, with no indication for ongoing prescription of antibiotics in the post-partum period and no contraindications to prophylactic Cefamezin (cefazolin), were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive a single intravenous dose of prophylactic antibiotic or not.
Current World Health Organization guidelines recommend routine antibiotic prophylaxis for women with perineal tear 3rd and 4th degree but not for 2nd degree because of insufficient evidence of effectiveness. The investigators aimed to investigate whether antibiotic prophylaxis prevented maternal infection after the first and second perineal tear after vaginal birth.