Surgical Site Infection following Cesarean Delivery: Patient, Provider, and Procedure-Specific Risk Factors

Am J Perinatol. 2016 Jan;33(2):157-64. doi: 10.1055/s-0035-1563548. Epub 2015 Sep 7.

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to identify risk factors for cesarean delivery (CD) surgical site infection (SSI). study design: Retrospective analysis of 2,739 CDs performed at the University of Pittsburgh in 2011. CD SSIs were defined using National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) criteria. Chi-square test and t-test were used for bivariate analyses and multivariate logistic regression was used to identify SSI risk factors.

Results: Of 2,739 CDs, 178 (6.5%) were complicated by SSI. Patients with a SSI were more likely to have Medicaid, have resident physicians perform the CD, an American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class of ≥ 3, chorioamnionitis, tobacco use, and labor before CD. In multivariable analysis, labor (odds ratio [OR], 2.35; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.65-3.38), chorioamnionitis (OR, 2.24; 95% CI, 1.25-3.83), resident teaching service (OR, 2.15; 95% CI, 1.54-3.00), tobacco use (OR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.04-2.70), ASA class ≥ 3 (OR, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.06-2.39), and CDs performed for nonreassuring fetal status (OR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.26-0.67) were significantly associated with CD SSI.

Conclusion: Multiple patient, provider, and procedure-specific risk factors contribute to CD SSI risk which may be targeted in infection-control efforts.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Blood Loss, Surgical / statistics & numerical data
  • Cesarean Section*
  • Chorioamnionitis / epidemiology*
  • Female
  • Fetal Distress / epidemiology*
  • Humans
  • Insurance, Health / statistics & numerical data
  • Internship and Residency / statistics & numerical data
  • Labor, Obstetric*
  • Logistic Models
  • Medicaid / statistics & numerical data*
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Obstetrics / education
  • Odds Ratio
  • Pregnancy
  • Private Practice / statistics & numerical data
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Surgical Wound Infection / epidemiology*
  • Tobacco Use / epidemiology*
  • United States / epidemiology
  • Uterine Hemorrhage / epidemiology
  • Young Adult