title: Postcesarean infection.
abstract: In 1998, 20.2% of the approximately 4 million births in the United States occurred via cesarean delivery. Routine antibiotic prophylaxis has significantly reduced morbidity, yet each year between 41,000 and 206,000 women develop a subsequent infection of the uterus or surgical incision. A thorough understanding of the pathophysiology and complex interaction of risk factors for metritis and wound infection is vital for perinatal nurses. Nurses have a critical role in the identification and treatment of postcesarean infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Labor, Delivery, Recovery and Postpartum, Southern New Hampshire Medical Center, Nashua, USA.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Normand
authors.forename: E G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Damato
mesh_terms: D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000451:nursing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004716:Endometritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods; D009017:Morbidity; D017283:Neonatal Nursing / Q000379:methods; D024802:Nurse's Role; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000379:methods; D011645:Puerperal Infection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology