DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2014.v02i06.055

Pages: 3118-3122

Following cesarean section, wound infections are frequent causes of postpartum morbidity, complicating 5- 15% cases. With prophylactic antibiotics, this morbidity has been reduced, but it still persists. Hence, the other factors which can influence the post cesarean wound infection may be the seedling of vaginal bacteria through the patient‟s abdominal wall incision by the surgeon‟s gloves. Hence this study was undertaken, to assess whether the “changing glove technique” by the entire surgical team intraoperatively, after delivery of fetus or after delivery of placenta would reduce the rate of post cesarean wound infection. Total 150 pregnant women undergoing cesarean section were selected for this study and randomized into three groups of 50 each. In study group A, gloves were changed intraoperatively by the entire surgical team after delivery of the placenta; in study group B, gloves were changed intraoperatively by the entire surgical team after the delivery of the fetus; while in the study group C, gloves were not changed at all. Statistical analysis was done by chi-square test and Fisher‟s exact test. The overall incidence of post cesarean morbidity was 4%, 8% and 18% in group A, B and C respectively. The comparison between the group A and C was statistically significant i.e., introperative glove changing technique by the entire surgical team has a significant decrease in post cesarean wound infection. E.coli was the most common organism isolated in infectious cases. With the results of this study, it is concluded that the obstetricians may decrease the number of post cesarean wound infection by having the entire team change surgical gloves after delivery of the placenta.