Decreasing Postpartum Cesarean Delivery Infection Rates
Disciplines
Maternal, Child Health and Neonatal Nursing | Perioperative, Operating Room and Surgical Nursing
Abstract (300 words maximum)
Cesarean deliveries are one of the most common surgical procedures performed by obstetricians. Postoperative infections like endometritis or surgical site infections may accompany cesarean sections. This is significant because it impacts the mother’s recovery and ability to take care of her newborn. Currently, standard practice may include cleaning the vagina with water or normal saline, or not cleansing the vagina at all immediately before surgery. This proposal will explore the efficacy of vaginal preparation with antiseptic solution prior to a cesarean section at decreasing the risk of infection in a postpartum woman. Current research has shown that endometritis is thought to occur primarily through ascending infection of anaerobic vaginal bacteria. In the 2014 study “Vaginal preparation with antiseptic solution before cesarean section for preventing postoperative infections,” Haas et al., determined that chlorhexidine vaginal preparation lowered the risk of wound complication and endometritis in women. It was concluded that the rate of post‐cesarean endometritis was 8.7% in control groups of no vaginal preparation compared to 3.8% in vaginal cleansing groups. Implementation of this project will include preparing the vagina of laboring mothers with antiseptic solution by nurses on a labor and delivery unit for 6 months. After 6 months, the efficacy of the proposal will be determined if the incidence of postoperative complications decreases. To ensure accurate and objective information, this proposal would include women undergoing elective, laboring or urgent cesarean delivery and pregnant women with no active infection. This proposal will be considered successful if vaginal cleansing reduces the risk of post-cesarean endometritis, postoperative fever, and postoperative wound infection.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
WellStar School of Nursing
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Sena Able
Additional Faculty
Christie Emerson, Nursing, cemerson@kennesaw.view.usg.edu
Decreasing Postpartum Cesarean Delivery Infection Rates
Cesarean deliveries are one of the most common surgical procedures performed by obstetricians. Postoperative infections like endometritis or surgical site infections may accompany cesarean sections. This is significant because it impacts the mother’s recovery and ability to take care of her newborn. Currently, standard practice may include cleaning the vagina with water or normal saline, or not cleansing the vagina at all immediately before surgery. This proposal will explore the efficacy of vaginal preparation with antiseptic solution prior to a cesarean section at decreasing the risk of infection in a postpartum woman. Current research has shown that endometritis is thought to occur primarily through ascending infection of anaerobic vaginal bacteria. In the 2014 study “Vaginal preparation with antiseptic solution before cesarean section for preventing postoperative infections,” Haas et al., determined that chlorhexidine vaginal preparation lowered the risk of wound complication and endometritis in women. It was concluded that the rate of post‐cesarean endometritis was 8.7% in control groups of no vaginal preparation compared to 3.8% in vaginal cleansing groups. Implementation of this project will include preparing the vagina of laboring mothers with antiseptic solution by nurses on a labor and delivery unit for 6 months. After 6 months, the efficacy of the proposal will be determined if the incidence of postoperative complications decreases. To ensure accurate and objective information, this proposal would include women undergoing elective, laboring or urgent cesarean delivery and pregnant women with no active infection. This proposal will be considered successful if vaginal cleansing reduces the risk of post-cesarean endometritis, postoperative fever, and postoperative wound infection.