DALLAS – A surgical site infection care bundle reduced the rate of surgical site infections (SSIs) after cesarean delivery by more than half, according to a case-control study examining data from more than 2,000 patients.
At the health center where the SSI bundle was implemented, rates per 1,000 women undergoing cesarean delivery fell from 2.44 to 1.10 (P = .013).
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The study showed the effectiveness of implementing evidence-based and -supported recommendations, and of having standardized protocols with little variation, said Christina Davidson, MD, presenting the pre-post findings during a plenary session at the meeting sponsored by the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine.
The bundle of interventions was developed over the course of 3 months in late 2013 and early 2014 by a multidisciplinary task force, drawing from colorectal surgery literature about SSI prevention. Both nurses and physicians were on the task force, and representatives came from the departments of obstetrics and gynecology, anesthesia, and infection prevention, said Dr. Davidson of the Baylor College of Medicine, Houston. All inpatient and outpatient clinical care sites had representation.