DETERMINANTS OF POST CAESAREAN WOUND INFECTION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF BENIN TEACHING HOSPITAL

Abstract

Wound infection following caesarean section is an important cause of
morbidity. There is therefore the need to determine the bacteriological pattern
and risk factors associated with it. The study was carried out in the University of
Benin Teaching Hospital between July 2002 and June 2004. Eighty-eight (88)
patients with wound infection were matched against one hundred and seventy six
(176) patients without wound infection. The incidence of post caesarean section
wound infection was 6.2%.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa (29.4%), Klebsiella spp (17.6%) and Proteus
spp (13.7%) were the most frequent organisms isolated. The organisms were
more sensitive to the third generation Cephalosorins and the Quinolones.
Sensitivity to Ampicillin, Tetracyclin and Cloxacillin were generally low. The
risk factors for wound infection identified were teenage status, low educational
status, obesity, emergency caesarean section, resident doctors as surgeons and
prolonged surgery. Also important is the presence of intrauterine fetal death and
postoperative anaemia. Most of the patients with infected wounds had a
prolonged stay in hospital (greater than two weeks).
Education of the girl child, prenatal care, utilization of antenatal services
and proper supervision of residents by consultants will help ameliorate this
problem. Proper use of prophylactic antibiotics is also advocated. Supervision of
maternity homes and continuing medical education of all stakeholders in

obstetric care will go a long way to reducing the incidence and implications of
wound infection.

DETERMINANTS OF POST CAESAREAN WOUND INFECTION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF BENIN TEACHING HOSPITAL