Post Caesarean Wound Infection in a Tertiary Level Hospital in Rajasthan

BACKGROUND Caesarean section is one of the major obstetric surgeries performed to save the lives of mothers and foetuses. Caesarean section like any other surgical intervention may be accompanied by a number of complications, such as surgical site infections (SSI). We wanted to determine the incidence of wound sepsis following caesarean section, factors that contribute to wound sepsis, types of pathogens causing wound sepsis, and the impact of wound sepsis on the duration of hospital stay. METHODS In this prospective study of 450 candidates. Each candidate has been examined thoroughly after taking a detailed history and were followed after caesarean section to look for any wound infection, along with the cause and factors responsible for that. Patients were evaluated for stitch line sepsis, culture and sensitivity in cases of sepsis and increase in duration of hospital stay recorded. Microsoft excel worksheet has been used for data entry and appropriate tests were applied to find significant association. P value < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. RESULTS Post caesarean wound infection was found in 6.8 % of patients. It was found to be more in the age group 31 - 35 yrs., more in illiterates, in primiparas, and who had less than 4 ANC visits, was more in hypertensives, and whose Hb was less than 11, in those who were in labour, or in those who had more than 3 vaginal examinations, and in those who had ruptured membranes and with meconium stained liquor. More cases were seen with emergency caesarean section. CONCLUSIONS Factors which were statistically significant were patient in labour, increased number of vaginal examinations, ruptured membranes, meconium stained liquor, and emergency caesarean section. Infections can be reduced by thorough precautions, proper antibiotics, and elective caesarean section.