Study Shows Reduction in Post-Cesarean Section Infection Through Comprehensive Prevention Strategy

A new study published in the May issue of the American Journal of Infection Control concluded a statistically significant reduction in the rate of surgical site infections (SSI) in patients undergoing cesarean section (C-section) delivery  (7.5 percent versus 1.2 percent; relative reduction of 84 percent) through an infection prevention bundle including the use of 2 percent chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG)/70 percent isopropyl alcohol (IPA) solution (ChloraPrep®), 2 percent CHG no-rinse cloth, instrument sterilization, staff education and training.

SSIs affect approximately 400,000 people per year and can cost as much as $25,000 per patient to treat, but more importantly, they are dangerous to patients. Women who undergo a C-section are five times more likely to develop a postpartum infection after delivery than women who undergo vaginal delivery.  In 2007, the rate of C-section delivery was 31.8 percent.

Naturally occurring bacteria on the skin that enters the body through an incision site is a leading cause of SSIs. Therefore, effective hospital infection prevention protocols must include recommendations on sufficient preparation of the patient’s skin prior to surgery, in order to reduce the amount of bacteria on the skin. In this study, the quality improvement interventions implemented by the University of Minnesota Medical School included skin prep with CHG no-rinse cloths prior to patients’ arrival in the delivery room and interoperative skin preparation with ChloraPrep as opposed to alcohol alone. The study compared pre-intervention C-section SSI rates from January through July 2006 to post-intervention C-section SSI rates during the same time period in 2007. In doing so, any seasonal effects on the results were eliminated.

“Surgical site infections, including those resulting from a C-section, pose a real health threat to patients, and are costly for the healthcare system,” said Cindi Crosby, vice president of global medical affairs, infection prevention with CareFusion. “This study highlights what we at CareFusion advocate—the importance of creating a comprehensive preoperative infection prevention protocol that includes skin antisepsis with a proven system like ChloraPrep products.”