1. Prophylactic oral amoxicillin–clavulanic acid given within 6 hours of delivery reduced clinically relevant wound complications after episiotomy or second-degree perineal tear.
2. Clinically significant complications occurred in nine percent of patients receiving antibiotics versus 17% receiving placebo.
3. Overall wound complication rates were similar, but the antibiotic group had fewer unplanned consultations and fewer additional antibiotic courses.
4. No serious adverse events were reported, and adverse event rates were comparable between the antibiotic and placebo groups.
5. Findings suggest short-course prophylactic antibiotics may meaningfully improve postpartum perineal wound outcomes, though generalizability is limited by the single-center design.

Source: The BMJ