SURGICAL SITE INFECTIONS AMONG PATIENTS UNDERGOING ELECTIVE VERSUS EMERGENCY CAESAREAN SECTION

Abstract

Objective: To determine the risk factors for surgical site infection in women
undergoing lower segment caesarean section and to compare the frequency
of identified risk factors for surgical site infection among women undergoing
elective and emergency caesarean section.
Methodology: It was a cross-sectional comparative study, conducted at
Hayatabad Medical Complex Peshawar from August 2014 to August 2015.
Consecutive 195 post operative cases of emergency and elective caesarean
section with surgical site infection were enrolled into the study. The patients
were followed on the 3rd to 5th post-operative day and on 28th day thereafter.
Final outcome i.e. surgical site infections (SSI) was measured on 28th day
by researcher and SSI were labeled as positive, as per operational definition.
Results: A total of 195 post-operative cases diagnosed with surgical site infection,
were studied during the specified period. Of these 164(84.1%) were
delivered with emergency caesarean section whereas 31(15.9%) by elective
caesarean section. Average age of the patients was recorded 27.8 ± 7.7 (ranging
from 21 to 40) years, average parity of the women was recorded 4.4±1.6
(range 0-9), average gestational age of the women was recorded 38±1.3
(ranging from 37 to 40) weeks. Average BMI of the patients was recorded
29.3±4.6 (ranging from 20 to 45). In this study BMI of more than 35kg/m2 was
associated with higher rate of SSI.
Conclusion: Obesity, gestational age, educational and economic status are
risk factors for surgical site infections; more so following emergency vs elective
caesarean sections.