• Febrile episodes, white blood cell counts, physical exam findings of vulva post-operatively [ Time Frame: First 2 weeks of post-operative course ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  

• Evidence of wound infection (fever, leukocytosis, or physical exam findings of infection such as induration, edema, erythema) [ Time Frame: Within the first 2 post-operative weeks ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  

Infectious morbidity in gynecologic oncology has not been thoroughly investigated to date. Included in the literature are several studies that highlight substantial numbers of post-surgical infectious complications. Specifically among patients undergoing radical vulvectomy, the incidence of post-operative wound complication is as high as 58%. Surgery is the treatment of choice for vulvar cancer, but few studies establish protocols or management strategies to prevent the complications of post-operative wound infection and breakdown. This proposed randomized prospective study would specifically investigate the efficacy of a 24 hour post-operative course of broad-spectrum prophylactic antibiotics - namely Cefazolin - in preventing wound infection and wound breakdown following vulvectomy. This same regimen has been described by a leader in the field of gynecology in his text - TeLinde's Operative Gynecology. This study will utilize two arms - one as the treatment arm utilizing 24 hours of prophylactic antibiotics and the other as control.