title: [Controlling caesarean-site infection. Collaboration between the obstetric and hospital hygiene departments].
abstract: In 1998, the isolation of Staphylococcus aureus resistant to methicillin (MRSA) from a sample taken from a post-caesarean surgical site infection (SSI) led the obstetrics department to call upon the hospital hygiene team for assistance. A retrospective investigation of incidence in the files of 24 women with caesarean deliveries showed a SSI rate of 24%. These abnormally high figures led to an audit of hygiene practices during these deliveries.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To reduce the incidence of post-caesarean SSIs at Dreux Hospital Centre.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 1999 through 2005, SSIs have been monitored according to the methods of the western France Coordinating Centre for Nosocomial Infections and the guidelines of ANAES in France and the U.S. CDC. The data were analysed by Epi Info 6, retrospectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Files of 1972 caesareans performed over a 6-year period were analysed. The SSI rate was 24% in 1999; it fell to 7.4% in 2000 and stabilized from 2003 through 2005 in the neighbourhood of 2.6%. More than 70% of our patients are re-examined within 2 weeks of delivery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Close cooperation between the Obstetrics and Hospital Hygiene departments led to a dramatic reduction in SSI rates, to 2.6% (similar to the national rate), and its maintenance over a 3-year period. Implementation of the caesarean hygiene protocol has continued since 2006.
authors.affiliation: CHG Victor-Jousselin Service de Gynécologie-Obstétrique, 44 avenue du Président Kennedy 28070 Dreux Cedex, France. olivier.pambou@orange.fr
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Pambou
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Coulon
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Neveu
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tadjerouni
authors.forename: Sylvain
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tribalat
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006748:Hospital Departments; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*