title: Reducing surgical site infection following caesarean section.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To set up a surgical site infection (SSI) benchmark rate for caesarean sections and improve infection rates by monitoring and implementing compliance with the guidelines produced by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 2382 patients who had undergone caesarean section at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust were monitored at two obstetric sites over a two-year period. A proactive infection surveillance system was used during the patients' hospital stay. Community midwives collected and returned post-discharge data on wound status. Patients were asked to return post-operative questionnaires 30 days after surgery, providing details of any wound problems. Compliance with NICE guidance on reducing SSIs was measured at both sites and changes were implemented accordingly.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Infection rates before compliance with NICE guidance from July 2008 to June 2009 ranged from 5.7% to 9.0%. After introducing the guidelines, rates of SSI at site A and site B were reduced by 3.3% and 3.8% respectively. Rates of SSI at site A were reduced further to 1.3% on introduction of the hydrofiber and hydrocolloid dressing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results suggest that the hydrofiber and hydrocolloid combination dressing assists in the reduction of SSI rates following caesarean section when used in combination with the NICE guidance.
authors.affiliation: Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, Maidstone Hospital, Kent. helen.panlkhurst@nhs.net
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gregson
mesh_terms: D001458:Bandages; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control; D011247:Pregnancy; D013222:State Medicine; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006113:United Kingdom