Highlights
- •A sequentially implemented prevention strategy reduced C-section infection rates.
- •Antibiotic prophylaxis, prenatal education, and safety checklist reduced SSI rate.
- •Most infections develop in the post-discharge period.
Background
We assessed the effects of the components of a multifaceted and evidence-based caesarean-section
surgical site infection (SSI) prevention program on the SSI rate after cesarean section
using a postdischarge surveillance (PDS) system.
Methods
Multiple prevention interventions were serially implemented. SSI case finding was
undertaken through active inpatient surveillance and intensive PDS using a standardized
form at the 6-week postdischarge visit. SSI diagnosis was made using the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention standardized criteria. All cesarean deliveries between
July 2007 and December 2012 were included. Changes in SSI rate were analyzed using
segmented regression analysis.
Results
Nine thousand four hundred forty-two cesarean sections were assessed during the study
period. PDS forms were completed for 7,985 women (85%). SSI was detected in 451 cases
(5.6%): 91% were superficial, 9% were deep/organ-space infections. The SSI rate decreased
incrementally from 8.2% at baseline to 4.1%; significant decreases were observed after
optimizing antibiotic prophylaxis timing, using a surgical safety checklist, and enhancing
prenatal education to discourage prehospital self-removal of hair. Nonelective surgeries
or those undertaken after >12 hours of rupture of membranes had a significantly higher
rate compared with those without either risk factor (6.3% vs 3.2%; P < .001).
Conclusions
A multifaceted SSI prevention strategy, with periodic feedback of data, led to a significant
reduction in SSI rates after cesarean section.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: May 07, 2015
Footnotes
Funding for the design and printing of the No Hair Removal posters was provided by 3M Canada.
Conflicts of interest: None to report.
Identification
Copyright
© 2015 Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
