Surgical Site Infection and Factors Responsible For It After Emergency Cesarean Section

Nasreen Fatima, Anum Ellahi, Shawita

Abstract

Objective

To determine the frequency of surgical site infection and factors responsible for it after emergency cesarean section at public sector hospital.

Study design

Cross sectional analytic study.

Place & Duration of study

Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center (JPMC) Karachi, from July 2018 to January 2019.

Methodology

Patients who underwent emergency cesarean section were enrolled after taking informed consent. Patients were followed after surgery up to one month and observed for the development of surgical site infection (SSI). Data collected and analyzed on SPSS version 16. Quantitative data was presented as mean and standard deviation and qualitative variables as frequencies and percentages. Chi square test was applied to find out association of surgical site infections with risk factors. A P < 0.05 was considered as significant.

Results

Among 145 patients who had emergency cesarean section 35 (24.1%) developed surgical site infection. Mean age of the patients was 30.93 years. Significant association of surgical site infection was found with anemia (P=0.020), diabetes mellitus (P=0.001), and prolonged hospital stay (P=0.000).

Conclusions

Increased rate of surgical site infection and multiple modifiable risk factors were identified in this study. Optimization of maternal health is imperative in the control of surgical site infection. Aseptic techniques and reduction of hospital stay may help in reducing SSI.

Key words

Cesarean section, Risk factors, Surgical site infection, Emergency surgery.