Highlights
- •Reported post-caesarean surgical site infection (SSI) rates vary from 1% to 10%.
- •International variation is seen in recommended prophylactic antibiotic regimens.
- •Surgical technique for wound closure influences SSI rate.
Abstract
Surgical site infection complicates 1–10% of caesarean deliveries. With the rate of
caesarean delivery increasing, it is important to identify effective measures of preventing
surgical site infection and to consider their impact on maternal and neonatal outcomes.
Compelling evidence supports the use of prophylactic antibiotics, prior to skin incision,
to reduce surgical site infection. However, there remain international variations
in terms of the recommended agent, dose and body weight-adjusted dosing. Advances
in wound dressings are an evolving area of interest and surgical technique can influence
outcomes. This narrative review explores pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods
of preventing surgical site infection following caesarean delivery.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: September 05, 2019
Accepted:
August 28,
2019
Identification
Copyright
© 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
